The funding will support the ARSC (Association for Research into Stammering in Childhood) and the Appeal for a new centre of excellence in West Yorkshire, probably Leeds or Bradford. ARSC is the charity which jointly funds the Michael Palin Centre in London.
Together with £500,000 announced in October, this brings to £1 million the total contribution from the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
The Prince of Wales, Patron of the ARSC Appeal, hosted a reception today at Clarence House, where Michael Palin gave his backing to efforts to raise a further £2 million to expand services at the centre in London and help set up the new centre in West Yorkshire.
Ed Balls, the Schools Secretary, said: "I want every child to get the support they need to be able to progress and reach their potential, and no young boy or girl should be held back by a stammer or any other special need. If children with a stammer get the right specialist help early on, they can very often overcome any difficulties and go on to excel at school and in later life"
At the reception Prince Charles spoke of his grandfather George VI's stammer and the effect this had on the King (news article link below). He also joked with the audience about how the stammer would be dealt with in a forthcoming film The King's Speech, with Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter as George VI and his wife.
2nd March 2010
Internet links:
DCSF News Release
News article: Prince Charles: 'Grandfather George VI's speech problems cut him off from family' (link to independent.co.uk)
Watch GMTV interview with Ed Balls and Michael Palin
The King's Speech - link to Wikipedia page on the upcoming film. Also (with pictures) www.firth.com/king.html.
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