Kingston’s two MPs have shown their support for a ‘King’s Speech’ campaign highlighting the importance of speech and language.

Ed Davey and Zac Goldsmith met with local service users of the Royal College of Speech’s Giving Voice initiative, to discover how the service has transformed their lives.

The MPs also had the chance to meet with parents and carers, and try their hand at sign language.

Edward Davey, MP for Kingston and Surbiton, whose three-year-old son suffers from severe speech and language problems, said getting resources to enable young children to get basic communication skills needed to be given greater priority.

Zac Goldsmith, MP for Richmond Park, praised the initiative which NHS organisation Your Healthcare is also supporting.

He said: “We are lucky to have such a good service here in Kingston. Your Healthcare gives over 2000 people with language or communication difficulties the opportunity to rebuild their confidence and transform their lives, without draining NHS resources.”

The aim of the Giving Voice campaign is to show how language therapy can tackle speech problems and reduce costs for the NHS, criminal justice system and the wider economy.

Your Healthcare was formed when nurses left NHS Kingston last year to form their own social enterprise charging services back to the NHS.