We are always delighted to highlight organisations who are finding thoughtful and creative ways to make their spaces more welcoming and inclusive. This month, we’re pleased to share the story of Dagmar Flock — a wonderfully unique Makaton Place. Travelling to shows and country fairs with their sheep and chickens, they use Makaton to help every family feel confident, included, and able to enjoy the experience together.
Our journey to becoming Makaton Aware
We decided to become Makaton Aware after a year of attending shows and country fairs, where we welcome families to come over, meet the sheep, and ask us questions. We started to notice that not all children felt able to ask their own questions in the same way as others.
Throughout the day, many parents shared that their children had difficulties with communication.
We wanted meeting the sheep to be memorable for those families too! Animals naturally have a calming, therapeutic effect, and we believe strongly that every child should be able to enjoy that. After creating a free Makaton Account in 2023, we received an email inviting us to think about becoming Makaton Aware. With the help of a close family member, and after buying a few Makaton books, we decided it was something worth investing in so we could better support the families we meet.
How we use Makaton in our work
At every show, we display our Makaton Aware certificate and our Makaton Aware ‘Ask for Help’ poster with Makaton Symbols. We find this helps families feel more comfortable about coming over with their children.
We started by learning basic Makaton signs and then moved on to animal signs and others we can use during the shows. Alongside learning to sign, we added Makaton symbols to all our sheep and chicken signs. Every member of our team wears a Makaton badge and a lanyard with Makaton flash cards. We have also added a small sensory table with feathers, wool and a sheep horn for children to touch and explore if they wish.
“It's so important in everyone's life to feel understood and included. Being Makaton Aware really helps not only us to understand and communicate with others, but it helps so many families feel less alone and feel comfortable navigating the world. That little extra understanding and time while using Makaton really does help make a big difference in everyone's lives.”
Lydia, Dagmar Flock Team Member
A memorable moment
We've met many families who have told us how much it means that we take the time to use Makaton and interact with their children. One moment that really stayed with us happened earlier this year. A family came over and their child ran towards the sheep, vocalising excitedly.
The parents immediately apologised and signed Quiet, worried about the noise.
We reassured them that it was no problem — the sheep didn't mind one bit. We started using a couple of sheep and animal signs, and their child joined in. Within five minutes, they were laughing, smiling and stroking the sheep. The parents thanked us more times than we could count and returned several times that day to enjoy both the sheep and our sensory table.
Moments like these are exactly why we chose to become Makaton Aware.
Since becoming Makaton Aware, we've noticed more families feeling confident enough to come and say hello. Displaying our certificate lets parents and children know straight away that we understand and are happy to take the extra time. Using Makaton signs helps families be included, reassured and able to enjoy the day without stress.
Building an inclusive future
We would highly recommend becoming a Makaton Place to other organisations. Being Makaton Aware doesn’t just help our understanding — it helps families feel comfortable and included in everyday things. Some families can struggle when a child has difficulties, and days out can be stressful. Being Makaton Aware allows you to offer reassurance, comfort and support, helping families feel seen, understood and included.
Looking ahead, we hope to do more school visits alongside our shows. Many infant and junior schools learn about animals in spring, but children with additional needs can sometimes be excluded from off-site trips due to staffing. We would like to bring our animals into school grounds instead, so every child can meet them and interact at their own pace, including using Makaton with those who might need additional support.
Instagram: @dagmar_flock_ | Facebook: Dagmar Flock of Castlemilk Moorit
At The Makaton Charity, we are so pleased to see the difference Makaton is making for Dagmar Flock and the families they meet at shows and events across the year. Their commitment to inclusion shows exactly what Makaton is about — helping everyone feel confident, understood, and welcome to join in. If you’d like to explore becoming a Makaton Place, find out more here: makaton.org/MakatonPlaces