When schools get back to business this month, they will resume battle with one of the newest and biggest challenges of the modern world: the poverty of speaking and listening skills among young people who have grown up in an age dominated by the chatter of media and IT rather than the conversation of family and friends.

Through its Better World campaign, BT is trying to ensure young people have the communication skills they need. Some 3,000 staff volunteers are working in local schools, delivering lessons for pupils and teachers, while a library of DVDs, CDs, books and magazines is given to schools to deliver their own sessions.