Europe comes to Yorkshire

Giggleswick, near Settle, was the location in July for the European League of Stuttering Associations' 7th Youth Meeting. Some participants talk here about the experience.

Tim Murphy (BSA member) on left, Anja from Germany, and Irish delegate Chris prepare for a presentation.

Tim Murphy

I have read comments from people who have attended ELSA meetings in the past and they used phrases like "life changing" and "amazing". On the way to the meeting I was feeling a mixture of scepticism, nervousness and excitement - but in my wildest dreams I never envisioned it would be the experience it turned out to be. I feel so lucky to have been part of a group of people who together have grown day-by-day, hour-by-hour in self-confidence.

I have learned so much about my rights as a person who stammers from informational and interactive lectures on disability rights, and awareness of 'suppression techniques'. I have also taken part in fun, imaginative and ingenious drama workshops which have led to me getting on stage and acting out three presentations!

I have never laughed and enjoyed myself so much, I have met people who understand me and that I trust to open up to, which is not easy to do as a person who stammers as you will probably know.

By this point you may be wondering why I have not spoken much about stammering or therapy. This is because this meeting was not another therapy programme (or not in the conventional sense of the word). I have tried many therapy approaches, including speech therapy, hypnotherapy, medications, and breathing techniques. But none of them gave me what I got from this meeting, and that is a strong fireball of belief and acceptance of myself with or without my stammer, which will forever burn inside of me and fuel me for when times get tough. No more self pity, as I know that anytime it sneaks up I will remember the faces of my f-f-friends who now inspire me to reach my limitless potential.

I would like to say a big thank you to the BSA for allowing me to go on this programme, and also a massive humongous thank you to everyone involved with ELSA, I will be forever indebted.

But the biggest thank you actually goes to stammering. If it were not for my stammer I would not have been able to attend, and therefore would not have met my f-f-friends for life. I never thought I'd say this but THANK YOU stammer.

P.S. As an added bonus I now have places to stay all over Europe. Did someone say cheaper holidays?

Cameron Donald

What a fantastic opportunity this was. I met so many great people, participated in drama classes, played sport, understood more about stammering and human rights, had some great conversation, and learned about different cultures, and regardless of age, race, nationality or sex everybody was there for the same reason. "Stammering knows no boundaries."

Read Cameron's diary of the Youth Meeting

Claire Pirnie

I left the meeting feeling tired, but empowered. Communication Impairment (including stammering) has been debated in the Scottish Parliament, but I will endeavour to remind our politicians of barriers particularly around the hidden aspects of stammering. A big thank you to Edwin, Anita and Richard for organising the meeting and having me back! I would highly recommend attending an ELSA Youth Meeting to anyone who gets the opportunity.

Edwin Farr
ELSA Chair and Youth Meeting organiser

30+ young people who stutter in a room in the middle of the Yorkshire Moors. Strangers on Day 1, for many possibly friends for life on Day 7, and in years to come Board Members and Chairs of Europe's National Stuttering Associations.

The first Youth Meeting in the UK brought delegates from as far north as Iceland to Croatia in the south, from Finland in the east to Eire in the west. The English weather did not dampen their enthusiasm for topics such as Human Rights, Drama and the workings of a National Stuttering Association. It was a pleasure to work with all these young people who are the future of the stuttering associations.

The ELSA Youth Meeting was funded by the Council of Europe.

From the Winter 2009 edition of Speaking Out, page 15.