In 1998 the Fluency Trust ran two courses for children who stammer. Both proved to be very popular with referrals from therapists as far away as Devon and Essex.

The course aims are as follows
1. To increase confidence in ability to communicate
2. To develop a positive attitude to speaking and decrease any sensitivity to stammering
3. To develop strategies for coping with stammering and increase the feeling of fluency control.
4. To increase problem solving skills and self help skills.

We had the hard task of selecting which children should attend as both courses were over-subscribed. We always invite some children who have multiple difficulties. That is, they not only have a stammer but also may have learning difficulties, suffer from bullying or show challenging behaviour due to frustration with communication. Not all children attending have these difficulties but we try to give priority to those with the greatest need for intensive help.

Our 'Blockbuster' residential course for 9-12 year olds was held at Abbey Leaze centre in Malmesbury during the last week in July. All the committee worked extremely hard, as usual, putting together a week filled with fun activities, great food and of course intensive speech therapy. Activities included swimming, fishing, juggling, art work and rafting. The children also took part in musical evening, a puppet workshop and a drama session. The wide mix of activities means that everyone excels at something and it is a joy to see the children's confidence and self esteem grow as the week progresses.

The children worked hard in the therapy sessions and went home feeling much more at ease about their speech and beginning to be able to feel in control of their stammer.

The first follow-up day in September went well with everyone continuing to make progress. We shall meet again in January for our last follow-up day.

In October we launched our newest venture: A residential course at Skern Lodge Activity Centre. This course was for 12-16 year olds. The week involved intensive speech therapy sessions as well as a variety of outdoor activities.

The Centre was superb, the staff were extremely helpful, they were keen to learn about stammering and therapy and enthusiastically supported the young people through many challenging activities, these including abseiling, high ropes, problem solving and canoeing.

Seeing each person succeed with these challenges, thus increasing their confidence and self esteem, was a delight.

The therapy sessions were hard work and intense beginning each morning and including evening sessions. The hard work was all worthwhile as each person began to understand their stammer and how it affected them. They were then able to move on to tackle a variety of techniques and strategies to enable them to feel in control. It was a privilege to see these young people confront their problem and start to take steps to overcome it.

The combination of outdoor activities and intense therapy was powerful. The course was challenging. exhausting but also invigorating and ultimately successful in helping the young people achieve their aims.

We now look forward to our next follow up day in January and March.

The Fluency Trust also organised a Fun Day this year. This came about as many families who have been on previous courses wished to stay in contact.

Approximately sixty people attended this event which was held at Longleat Safari Park. The children were able to meet old friends and make new ones. Parents were able to exchange ideas as well as having the opportunity to speak to the Speech and Language Therapists regarding their child's progress or any worries they may have. It was an enjoyable and beneficial day and we hope to run one every year.

Comments received from Group Members after the Course
(with thanks to Karina, Joel, Mat, Tracey and Mathew).

"I have learned how to control the speed of my speech and not to reply straight after the person speaks to me. Also to take my time when I am speaking to someone?"

"The Skern Lodge staff were all friendly and ready to encourage me on each activity"

"I liked the abseiling best, it gave me the best thrill of all as I have never done this before"

"The therapy was intensive and I found it very helpful, by explaining how to handle my stammer and learn to live with it.. I found my stammer was less noticeable when I was with the others"

"I enjoyed learning how to handle my stammer"

"The whole week was very well organised, we always had something to do. whether it be therapy sessions or activities"

"The speech therapists were very supportive and enthusiastic with a good sense of humour"

"I wrote down my expectations of the course and they all happened. I gained confidence and met others who stammer"

"I feel I have improved. I can now use breathing in tricky situations, with confidence"

"We had 4½ hours speech therapy a day; it sounds a lot, but it flew by. We practised all the communication skills, eye contact, facial expressions, posture, body language, tone of voice etc."

"We had a look at how we talk and how we should breath and what is going wrong when we stammer, if it is a hard block or an easy stammer. We were given different techniques to progress towards an easier stammer. Another big project was how to become less bothered about stammering. Doing this we made a personal hierarchy on the situations and places where we feel most confident speaking"

"It was a very fun and educating week and all the speech therapists and guides at Skein Lodge were really nice I really enjoyed myself"

"The destination was a nice place with a sea view from our window. I enjoyed it, especially the activities".

From the Summer 1999 edition of Speaking Out

For course and contact details, see our Fluency Trust events page.