Speech Bubbles CIO

What Speech Bubbles CIO does

Speech Bubbles CIO is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Registered Charity Number 1194022) headquartered in London that delivers the Speech Bubbles programme — a structured, 24-session small-group drama intervention for Key Stage 1 children (ages 5–7) with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN), including children who are shy, on the autism spectrum, have selective mutism, or face language barriers. The intervention is built on a proprietary Story Square methodology in which each child tells a story and the group performs it, supported by a library of drama games and co-delivered by trained practitioners working alongside teaching assistants and SENCOs. Adjacent offerings include teacher training, free downloadable activity booklets, the StoryFUNd sub-brand for storytellers and performers, and the 2024 book 'That's my story!' by Adam Power-Annand, whose royalties flow to the charity.

The organisation monetises through three streams: school programme fees (recurring, with subsidies available for constrained budgets), donations and charitable grants from funders such as Paul Hamlyn Foundation and The Communication Trust, and book royalties. Distribution is via a national network of 12 theatre companies (including London Bubble, Half Moon Theatre, Kazzum Arts, M6 Theatre, and Bounce Theatre) that deliver the programme regionally. In summer 2023 the charity reached 2,300 children with communication needs across 42 schools and is expected to operate in a typical year at similar scale. Geographic coverage spans London, Kent, Hertfordshire, Greater Manchester, and Bristol, with expansion in 2024–2025 into SEND and alternative provision settings through partnerships such as Include.org.

Speech Bubbles originated from a 2006 'Speak Out' coalition and was formalised under current CEO and National Lead Adam Annand in 2009. It is governed by a board of trustees (including Wayne Cooper and Lily Rice) and counts Mark Rylance as a patron. The organisation cites outcome data of 78% improvement in Learning, Speaking and Listening and 70% improvement in emotion, conduct and behaviour, supported by independent academic studies from the University of East London, Canterbury Christ Church University, and an Ernst & Young value-for-money assessment. Operations remain small (1–10 headcount) and the CIO was structured in 2021 to consolidate the programme originally housed within London Bubble Theatre Company.

Name

Speech Bubbles CIO

Legal name

Speech Bubbles CIO

Website

https://speechbubbles.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Speech Bubbles CIO is a UK charity that delivers a 24-session, drama-based small-group programme in primary schools to support Key Stage 1 children with speech, language and communication needs, distributed through a national network of 12 theatre partners and supplemented by teacher training and free resources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Communication and Wellbeing Services

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Communication / Pragmatics Intervention (School-Age) (EDAKAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Intervention & Skill-Building Programs (Speech/OT Support Materials, Social Skills) (EDACAJAJ), Project-Based Learning & Presentation Coaching (EDANADAH), Teacher/Coach Training & Curriculum for Speech & Debate (EDAMAOAL)

Keywords

• School communication programmes
• Drama based intervention
• SLCN support services
• Primary school programmes
• Children wellbeing services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. School programme fees: Schools pay to book Speech Bubbles programmes. The organisation offers subsidies and lower costs to schools with constrained budgets, supported by emergency funding from foundations.
2. Donations and charitable funding: Charitable donations from individual donors and institutional funders including Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Communication Trust, and other trusts/foundations that support children's communication programmes.
3. Book royalties: Publication of 'That's my story! Drama for confidence, communication and creativity in KS1 and beyond' by Adam Power-Annand with all royalties supporting Speech Bubbles CIO to reach more children.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Speech Bubbles CIO delivers a school-based drama intervention programme for Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7) primary school children with speech, language and communication needs. Trained drama practitioners, supplied through a national network of 12 partner theatre companies, run 24 small-group sessions in schools alongside teaching staff, with each child telling and acting out their own story. The core programme is supplemented by teacher training and a separate StoryFUNd strand for storytellers and performers.

Product overview

Speech Bubbles CIO offers the Speech Bubbles Programme as its core product — a small-group drama intervention for KS1 children with communication needs, delivered in primary schools by drama practitioners working alongside school staff. This core programme is supplemented by teacher training services, and the StoryFUNd sub-brand for storytellers and performers. Free downloadable resources include the Drama at School activity booklet and the 20 Fun Drama Games and 10 More Drama Games booklets for home use. The organisation also publishes annual reports documenting programme impact.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Speech Bubbles Programme A 24-session small-group drama intervention for Key Stage 1 (KS1, ages 5-7) primary school children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). Trained drama practitioners, supplied through a national network of 12 partner theatre companies, work alongside school staff (teaching assistants, SENCOs) so that each child tells and acts out their own story using the Story Square methodology, building confidence, communication and social interaction.
• Teacher Training

Quantifiable outcome

• 78% of children showed improvement in Learning, Speaking and Listening
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supportive.

• London BubblecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon Bubble is the originating organisation of Speech Bubbles. The programme was first developed and delivered by London Bubble Theatre Company, and Speech Bubbles CIO continues this partnership to deliver drama sessions in schools.
• Half Moon TheatrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the 12 theatre companies in the national network delivering Speech Bubbles programme to schools.
• Kazzum ArtscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the 12 theatre companies in the national network delivering Speech Bubbles programme to schools.
• Immediate TheatrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the 12 theatre companies in the national network delivering Speech Bubbles programme to schools.
• Trinity Theatre (Tunbridge Wells)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the 12 theatre companies in the national network delivering Speech Bubbles programme to schools. Also contributed to Adam Power-Annand's book launch.
• PeoplescapecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the 12 theatre companies in the national network delivering Speech Bubbles programme to schools.
• North West Drama ServicecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the 12 theatre companies in the national network delivering Speech Bubbles programme to schools in the North West region.
• M6 TheatrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the 12 theatre companies in the national network delivering Speech Bubbles programme to schools in Greater Manchester.
• Oldham Theatre WorkshopcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the 12 theatre companies in the national network delivering Speech Bubbles programme to schools.
• Bounce TheatrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBounce Theatre Company is a Speech Bubbles Partner delivering the programme in Manchester area. Louise Pendry, Bounce Theatre's Artistic Director, is featured in podcasts and blogs about the programme.
• Pro Bono EconomicssupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Adam Annand to blog about evaluating the Speech Bubbles programme and its impact.
• Ernst & YoungsupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted a value for money assessment of the Speech Bubbles programme, providing economic evaluation of costs and benefits.
• Canterbury Christ Church UniversitysupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Jonathan Barnes from the Sydney De Haan Research Centre for The Arts and Health conducted evaluations of the extended Speech Bubbles programme, including research on improving children's social and emotional health.
• University of East London (UEL)supportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Heather Price from UEL's Psychosocial Research Group conducted a 2015-2017 evaluation of Speech Bubbles drama intervention effectiveness.
• Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH)supportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublished Dr Jonathan Barnes' research article on the long-term benefits of taking part in Speech Bubbles.
• Include.orgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlix Lewer, CEO of Include.org (speech and language therapy charity), serves as consultant supporting Speech Bubbles expansion into SEND and alternative settings. Featured in podcast on creativity and wellbeing.
• National DramasupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublished research on Speech Bubbles and the Teaching Assistant by Dr Jonathan Barnes in Drama Research journal. Membership provides free access to the journal.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Tiny Talk: UK provider of baby-signing and early communication classes supporting pre-school and early primary-aged children. Comparable as an early-years SLCN-adjacent intervention provider targeting a similar age band to Speech Bubbles' KS1 cohort, though delivered via parent-infant classes rather than school-based drama.
• Polka Theatre: Children's theatre in South West London running creative learning and school engagement programmes. Comparable as a children's theatre company offering school-based drama workshops and communication/creative learning activities targeting KS1/KS2 audiences similar to Speech Bubbles.

Direct peers

• Speech and Language UK: The UK's largest charity dedicated to supporting children with speech, language and communication needs, delivering school programmes, training and resources for SLCN. Directly comparable to Speech Bubbles CIO in target population (UK primary school children with SLCN) and school-based delivery model, though Speech and Language UK is significantly larger and broader in scope.
• I CAN (now integrated into Speech and Language UK programmes): Predecessor programmes within the same family of SLCN charities that historically delivered Talk Boost and other school-based SLCN interventions for primary-aged children. Directly comparable to Speech Bubbles' KS1 small-group communication intervention format, with overlapping evidence-based methodology.
• Elklan: Provides training and accreditation for education staff working with children with SLCN, including speech and language support for schools. Comparable to Speech Bubbles' teacher training and capacity-building strand, with similar target audience of SENCOS, TAs and teachers supporting KS1/KS2 children.

Regional players

• Kazzum Arts: London-based arts organisation creating theatre and creative arts projects for children and young people, including those with SEND and complex needs. Comparable as a Speech Bubbles delivery partner serving London schools with drama-based interventions targeting vulnerable children.
• Half Moon Theatre: London-based young people's theatre that is one of the 12 Speech Bubbles delivery partners. Comparable as a regional theatre delivering educational drama programmes to primary schools, sharing the Speech Bubbles methodology and target audience.
• M6 Theatre: Greater Manchester-based theatre company specialising in theatre for children and young people and one of the Speech Bubbles delivery partners in the North West. Comparable as a regional children's theatre delivering Speech Bubbles and similar school-based drama programmes to primary-aged children.
• London Bubble Theatre Company: Originating theatre company of the Speech Bubbles programme and a current delivery partner. Comparable as a regional theatre company delivering drama-based work in primary schools in London/South East, sharing methodology and practitioners with Speech Bubbles CIO.

Broad incumbents

• Nasen: The national SEND membership organisation supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities across the UK. Comparable as a broader SEND support body that Speech Bubbles' SEND expansion strategy would engage with; not a direct competitor in drama-based communication but operates in the same commissioning and policy ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Speech-Bubbles-104446055558699
• Xtwitter.com/SpeechBubblesUK
• Pinterestpinterest.com/speechbubblesuk

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Speech Bubbles CIO