Case study
Putting communication support in people’s hands
For more than 50 years, the Makaton Charity has helped people communicate through the Makaton Language Programme, which combines signs, symbols and speech.
Today, more than 100,000 children and adults use Makaton every day, either as their primary method of communication or to support speech. The programme also supports families, educators, healthcare professionals and support workers to communicate with confidence.
The Challenge
The Makaton Charity already had a mature digital ecosystem supporting its members, community and extensive library of learning resources. However, these services were spread across multiple browser-based platforms.
For members, this created unnecessary friction. Whether in a classroom, at home, in a healthcare setting or out in the community, users often needed fast access to trusted Makaton content at the exact moment they needed it most.
Rather than replacing existing technology, the charity wanted to create a seamless mobile experience that would bring together its dictionary resources, community discussions and membership services into a single, connected platform, making trusted content available wherever members were.
The Solution
Cantarus utilised the MemConnect App platform to integrate Makaton's existing best-of-breed systems into a unified mobile experience. This approach merged data silos and preserved the charity's existing infrastructure investments.
Key Technical Integrations include:
- Asset Bank: The core digital asset manager acts as the "single source of truth" for the Makaton library. The app pulls dictionary-style entries – including video, symbols, and images – directly to ensure members have instant access to trusted resources.
- Higher Logic: Extends the "MakaChat" community into the app. Members can browse and contribute to discussions in-app, increasing participation and peer support.
- iMIS: The Association Management System integration handles secure sign-on, synchronises contact records in real-time, and manages the transition from free trials to paid memberships.
- Apple & Google Pay: Facilitates low-friction membership acquisition. New users can join and pay directly within the app journey, immediately unlocking member-only content.
As part of the app delivery, Cantarus created a complete in-app membership-purchase journey across Apple and Google. Connected to Makaton’s iMIS association management system, the solution creates and synchronises the correct contact and membership records, recognises app-store purchases and gives new members immediate access to their benefits. This provides a new route to paid membership, allowing users to discover Makaton, join, pay and access membership through one connected mobile journey.
The app transforms how members access and use the Makaton Language Programme by putting more than 45,000 approved signs, symbols and learning resources at their fingertips. Members can instantly search the dictionary, bookmark frequently used content for quick access, discover new learning through features such as Sign of the Week, and engage with the wider Makaton community from anywhere.
By removing barriers to accessing trusted content at the point of need, the app helps members communicate with greater confidence in everyday situations while strengthening the overall value of membership. The seamless join and payment journey also supports sustainable membership growth through frictionless acquisition and renewals.
We are delighted to have delivered such a meaningful impact for a charity so closely aligned with our own values. This project is a wonderful example of how thoughtful application of talent and technology can turn a digital strategy into a life-changing reality.
— Lee Adams, CEO, Cantarus
The Results
Within weeks of launch, the app achieved significant traction through existing member channels and rave reviews in the App Store, with a solid 5-star initial rating.
- 2,000 paying members achieved by August 2026 - reaching Makaton’s Christmas target four months ahead of schedule.
- 190 paying app users by August 2026, against a target of 30 - almost five times the expected number.
- 50%+ adoption across Makaton’s total membership within the first week.
- 17,000+ app downloads in the first month.
- 4.5-star rating on the Apple App Store.
These results were achieved before Makaton’s major promotional push.
Beyond the headline figures, the impact has been reflected in how members use the app every day. Users consistently highlight the speed and convenience of accessing trusted Makaton resources wherever they are, enabling them to communicate more confidently in real-world situations and making the app an integral part of their daily practice.
"Being able to quickly search for a sign in the asset library and instantly see the relevant resources is incredibly helpful. It makes learning and refreshing knowledge much more convenient."
– App Store Review
Our goal was to make Makaton more accessible in the moments when people need it most. Cantarus delivered a mobile experience that brings together our resources, community, and membership services in a way that’s intuitive and reliable, providing a central pillar of our long-term digital strategy.
— Stephen Hall, CEO, The Makaton Charity
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