A project that tackles communication challenges among primary school pupils was launched at a Glasgow primary school.

The VoiceBox project, a nationwide joke competition initiated by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), was launched at the Chirnsyde Primary School in North Glasgow's Milton.

New research from RCSLT indicates that more than 6,503 children in Scotland are currently awaiting initial contact with a speech and language therapist.

Glasgow Times: The VoiceBox project is a nationwide joke competition initiated by the Royal College of Speech and

Glenn Carter, head of RCSLT Scotland, said: "As we launch VoiceBox, we celebrate the importance of communication and the incredible potential within every child.

"Humour has the power to connect us, underscoring the importance of speech and language in our lives."

Stating that communication is a fundamental human right, Mr Carter said speech and language therapists are an important resource for improving communication skills for the children of Scotland.

He added: "We need to preserve this resource. Every child's voice deserves to be heard, and it's our responsibility to ensure they have the support they need to thrive."

More than a quarter of a million children and young people in Scotland have a predicted speech, language and communication need.

This figures equates to one in four children.

Over the past five years, the average wait for initial contact with a speech and language therapist has also risen by 7.6 months.

Glasgow Times: Glenn Carter said VoiceBox celebrates the importance of communication and the incredible potential

More than half of children from areas of lower income possess inadequate spoken language skills for learning upon starting school, according to RCSLT.

The need for language help in these deprived regions is met with scarce resources for speech and language therapists.

Mr Carter said: "We hope that this initiative will bring joy and laughter to kids across Scotland regardless of their background or communication difficulties.

"This is a really fun campaign with a serious message."

The final of the VoiceBox campaign will take place on June 6 at the Scottish Parliament, hosted by Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone MSP.

Every primary school pupil in Scotland can participate in VoiceBox, with the funniest 32 local authority finalists selected to go through to the final.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners, including book vouchers and toy gift cards valued up to £100.

Mr Carter added: "VoiceBox serves as a light-hearted yet impactful reminder that fostering strong communication skills is a vital investment in our children's futures."

At the campaign launch, more than 150 children from primary one to seven performed their own joke competition.

Glasgow Times:

Laura White, primary publisher of the Big Cat reading scheme for HarperCollins, said: "We are delighted to support the development of children’s communication skills through VoiceBox and the message that it is spreading. We believe that this will help improve children’s literacy and comprehension abilities through the enjoyment of telling a joke.

“We have already seen the creativity and laughter that VoiceBox can bring, and if the launch was anything to go by, then we are going to have a lot of laughs along the way.”