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Posted: 11th July 2025

Sign up for SWAP Plus in September!

The second round of SWAP Plus is coming to a close, but don’t worry, there are still places available for this September. SWAP Plus replaced the original SWAP (Speak With A Picture) project at the beginning of this year and is available to families in Barking & Dagenham with a child aged between five and nineteen who is non-verbal or presenting with communication difficulties. The project is aimed at parents and carers with a view to opening lines of communication with their children.

So far this year, twenty families have benefitted from the project, and we are very pleased with the progress that they have all made. The programme is managed by Kerry Benham and Emily Harber, both of whom have extensive knowledge and experience of working with children and families and have a personal relationship with autism themselves.

With the current session coming to an end, we’ve received some terrific feedback from some of the families who have taken part in the programme so far this year. Among the comments we have received are;

• The SWAP programme has given me hope that I can help my child communicate. SWAP plus has enabled me to see that there are other ways he can communicate
• SWAP Plus has empowered me to be mor confident that I am on the right path with my daughter
• The SWAP project is very good training session for parents and carers with children who have delay communication and other special needs. It empowers them parents and gives them confidence to initiate communication with their children.

Kerry said; “It’s great to connect with people on a personal level and it is always wonderful when we can make a positive difference. We look forward to working with the new group in September.”

The next programme begins on 17th September. To get more information on how to obtain a place for your family, contact swapplus@sycamoretrust.org.uk

SWAP Plus is funded by the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham NCIL fund