A £2,000 grant has been awarded to adults with learning disabilities to help strengthen their voices.

Bright Lives, which supports people in Tendring and Colchester, will use the money to train a regional Makaton tutor to teach sign language.

The money came from Colne Housing through its Colne Community Builders scheme.

Bright Lives chief executive Michael Jones said: “Being able to communicate is a vital skill which we all need in life.

“Almost everything we do involves communication and these activities all rely on our ability to communicate with someone.

“We’re delighted to have been awarded this funding as it will help people who struggle with talking, to have a voice.

“It will also help to relieve the frustration and isolation that are so often experienced by people with disabilities.”

About 100,000 children and adults use Makaton symbols and signs, either as their main method of communication, or as a way to support speech.