Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy
Founded 1944
Members 17,468
Head union CEO: Kamini Gadhok
Chair: Morag Dorward
Office location 2 White Hart Yard, London, SE1 1NX
Country United Kingdom
Website www.rcslt.org

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) is a membership organisation, trade union, and registered charity in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1944 as the College of Speech Therapy, receiving its royal charter in 1995. HRH The Countess of Wessex is the patron. The majority of members are speech therapists.

History

The College of Speech Therapists was created following the amalgamation of the Association of Speech Therapists and the British Society of Speech Therapists in 1944.[1] It was first patronised in 1948 by King George VI, who received speech and language therapy for his stammer. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, continued this support after his death in 1952 and become the college's patron in 1959.[2]

The college was awarded the right to call itself the 'Royal College' of Speech and Language Therapists in 1995. HRH The Countess of Wessex became the current RCSLT patron in 2003 after the death of the Queen Mother in 2002.[1]

Work

The RCSLT is a professional membership body which promotes for the public benefit the art and science of speech and language therapy, meaning the care for individuals with communication, swallowing, eating and drinking difficulties.[3]

It's stated professional aims are: to provide leadership and setting professional standards for speech therapists in the UK; to facilitate and promote research into the field of speech and language therapy; to promote better education and training of speech and language therapists; to provide information for members and the public about speech and language therapy.[4]

Finances

In the financial year 2016 2017 it had an income of over £4.2 million and an expenditure of over £4.3 million,[3] of which £3.3 million (79%) derived from membership income.[5]

Membership

The total membership in 2018 was 17,468. Of this figure, 14,267 were UK practising members, 949 were UK non-practising members, 493 were retired, 373 were overseas, 1,197 were students, and 189 were associates. The total membership has risen progressively: there were 15,883 members in 2014, 16,194 in 2015, 16,681 in 2016, 17,083 in 2017 and 17,468 in 2017.[6]

In a 2018 survey of it's membership (of which 2,700 responded), the RCSLT found that the mean age of it's members was 42 and that 73% were employed by the NHS; the remainder worked in independent practice (11%), schools (3%), local authorities (3%), universities (3%), or in other areas (7%).[7]

References

  1. 1 2 "Introducing to the RCSLT". Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  2. ↑ Shawcross, W. (2009). Queen Elizabeth: The Queen Mother: the Official Biography. Pan Macmillan. p. 953.
  3. 1 2 "Royal College Of Speech And Language Therapists: Data for financial year ending 31 March 2017". Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  4. ↑ "Introducing the RCSLT". Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "ROYAL COLLEGE OF SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPISTS TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2017" (PDF). Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  6. ↑ Dorward, M.; Ghadok, K. (September 2018). "The RCSLT IMPACT REPORT 2017-2018: Message from the RCSLT Chair and CEO". Bulletin: the official magazine of the royal college of speech and language therapists. 797: 2–3.
  7. ↑ Dorward, M.; Money, D. (September 2018). "Members first". Bulletin: the official magazine of the royal college of speech and language therapists. 797: 20&nbsp, 21.
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