Chartered Institute
of Linguists
Running for Languages
By Tom Crook, CIOL Qualifications Client Services Officer.
The Chartered Institute of Linguists is a not-for-profit organisation and has always had a public purpose to enhance the recognition and promote the value of languages and language skills in the public interest, and we work to do so by encouraging the effective study and practice of languages.
There is a lot to do to support language and communication skills in the UK as well around the world.
Running for Speech and Language UK
It is for this reason that I am very proud to be running on behalf of CIOL in the Royal Parks Half-Marathon in October 2025 in support of the charity Speech and Language UK.
I cannot think of a better charity to support than one that campaigns tirelessly for improvements, support and an overall awareness of the urgent need for language and communication skills in young children.
There feels little that could be more in keeping with our mission statement to work for the public interest.
Why Speech and Language UK?
A recent (2023) report commissioned by Speech and Language UK: Listening to unheard children found that teachers across the UK now estimate that nearly 2 million children are behind in their development of speaking skills and/or their understanding of words.
- Put simply, that equates to roughly 1 in 5 children in schools across the UK.
- And put rather more bluntly, that is the highest number ever recorded.
- This equates to 20% of an entire generation of the UK’s young people.
The opportunity and skills that we have, to communicate effectively and express ourselves through language and words should not, therefore, be taken for granted. I’m one of the lucky ones, and if you’re reading these words, then clearly so are you.
By virtue of our profession and our passions, we get to live and breathe a world of language and linguistically sophisticated communication, finding joy and purpose in the beauty of word in their many forms: writing, reading, poetry, prose, reportage, interpreting and transcreation.
Times are challenging for linguists in the UK and worldwide, that cannot be understated, but it would be an honour if you or any of our members could find the means to contribute to our collective fundraising effort on behalf of Speech and Language UK.
I will write more soon!
Support from CIOL’s Chair
CIOL Chair Steve Doswell is no stranger to marathons. When the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016, Steve decided to lace up his own running shoes and head in the opposite direction, back to Europe, but in his own way by running in every country of the EU before the Brexit deadline in 28 countries!
His book on the experience: RUNNING: ME RUNNING EU was published last year. Steve said:
“It’s excellent to find a fellow distance-runner within the team at CIOL. Tom deserves our full support for making this commitment - not just the 13.1 miles on the day but the training too, especially during the hottest part of the year. We would also struggle to find a more appropriate cause for our fund-raising than the work of Speech and Language UK. Good luck to Tom with his preparations.”
JustGiving page
Here is the link to Tom's CIOL sponsored JustGiving page:
Tom Crook is Client Services Officer at CIOL Qualifications, and has been involved with the Chartered Institute of Linguists in various capacities since 2008. A former West-End actor, he now turns his hand to writing in his spare time and has most recently been published as a member of the Monday Night Group – Manchester’s longest running writing group, in their anthology ‘Ink Spill’, alongside writing for Northern Soul.
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