Murton Park has become York and North Yorkshire’s first Makaton Friendly family attraction.
Makaton Friendly is a unique partnership programme which helps organisations and communities to improve accessibility for anyone living with communication difficulties. Makaton is a communication system which uses signs made with your hands, simple symbols and speech to help people communicate.
Today over 100,000 people with communication difficulties use Makaton signs and symbols, either to support their speech or as their main method of communication.
Working with the support of York Makaton Tutor Jo Bryenton, Murton Park has been awarded Bronze Makaton Friendly Accreditation.
Makaton signs and symbols are used across the park to help visitors with learning and communication difficulties – their Front of House team use Makaton signs to welcome visitors, and their Living History team uses Makaton signs to engage and support school children on their living history educational visits.
Jo Bryenton, Makaton Tutor said
“I am delighted to have supported Murton Park on their Makaton journey over the last year. We started with training staff to use a small number of signs at their Christmas events and the positive response this received from visitors encouraged them to embrace using Makaton across the Park. We have now trained all their staff to use relevant Makaton signs to help visitors use the fantastic facilities Murton Park has to offer. Their new site map includes simple symbols which help visitors find their way around the park.
“I look forward to continuing to work with the wonderful team at Murton Park as they strive to ensure everyone who lives with a communication difficulty has equal access to local facilities.”
Olivia Jackson, Marketing Manager and Murton Parks’ Makaton Champion is delighted;
“We’re extremely proud to be the first Makaton Friendly attraction in York and North Yorkshire. Our accreditation demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity and we look forward to continuing to welcome visitors of any age with communication difficulties.”
Murton Park is an award winning family visitor and school attraction situated only 4.5 miles from York. With their own museum, railway, animals, playground and living history sites, they have something for everyone.