November 2011

BSA Speaking Out Team If you're interested in using speaking opportunities to create greater understanding of stammering, get in touch. The team has a Facebook group.

September 2011

Farm Festival donation in memory of Gavin Harry The British Stammering Association (BSA) is very pleased to receive a donation of £573 from the team at Farm Festival, in memory of their friend Gavin Harry.

We're collecting CDs and DVDs Help BSA raise money by letting us have your old CD's, DVDs or games. Have a clear out and raise funds for stammering at the same time.

August 2011

Expert Parent website BSA's new resource giving parents detailed guidance on getting the best support for their child during preschool and school years is now live at www.stammeringineducation.net/expertparent

First Stammering Support Centre newsletter The new Stammering Support Centre in Leeds has published its first monthly newsletter, including outlines of upcoming workshops and news of an SSC grand opening event in September.

July 2011

Whitby to Edinburgh sponsored bike ride Ian Higginson is cycling from Whitby to Edinburgh in September. He's doing this in aid of BSA, in memory of Gavin Harry who died in May. You can sponsor Ian on JustGiving.

First Indian stammmering conference BSA trustee and ISA Vice Chair Keith Boss reflects on the journey taken by India, and that other countries without a stammering association or website might follow the lead.

BSA response to consultation on Special Educational Needs (SEN) - Our response to the Government's SEN Green Paper.

May 2011

'Shine a light' awards The Hello campaign is inviting entrants to take part in the 'Shine a Light' 2011 Hello campaign awards for developing children and young people's communication.

March 2011

Red Nose Day and King's Speech BSA has complained to the BBC about the sketch by Lenny Henry spoofing a scene of The King's Speech. We believe a show designed to raise money for disability is not the place to mock people with disabilities.

January 2011

Huge accolade for Colin Firth Colin Firth won the Golden Globe for best actor for his role as George VI in The King's Speech.

The King's Speech The King's Speech deals with King George VI and his efforts to control his stammer, with the help of his speech therapist Lionel Logue. It went on general release in the UK from 7th January 2011.

December 2010

Permission to discuss stammering The King's Speech is coming to a cinema near you - let's grab this chance to Talk About Stammering.

Giving Voice With speech and language therapy services perhaps under threat in the current financial climate Giving Voice is a campaign to demonstrate how these make a difference to people. See RCSLT's campaign website for how you can help.

November 2010

Toastmasters winner BSA member David Jones was the UK and Ireland winner of the 'Topics' contest at the Autumn 2010 Conference of Toastmasters International in Dublin.

October 2010

2011: a year to help all children communicate Sarah Teather MP, Minister of State for Children and Families, gave the keynote speech at The Communication Trust's parliamentary event to say Hello to the 2011 National Year of Communication.

NHS service watch A confidential survey. Has your local speech and language therapy service been reduced? Or are there long waiting lists, or no stammering service at all for an age group? Let us know.

September 2010

Tell us what you think about the BSA website! The BSA are embarking on a project to bring the website into the 21st century. Fundraising for the project will be helped if it can be demonstrated that consultation with the membership has taken place. So please have your say by answering this questionnaire.

August 2010

Participants wanted for research on text relay services People who stammer may not know that there is a Relay Service available for those who have difficulty with phone calls. You can have your say on the future of these services in the UK by taking part a major research project.

Rt Hon Ed Balls MP at BSA London Open Day We are delighted that Ed Balls MP is taking time out of his busy schedule to attend our Open Day on September 4th.

July 2010

Brit Writers success Ashaur Rahman reached the finals of The Brit Writers' Awards this month, out of 21,000 applicants. One of his poems was about stammering.

Obituary: Oliver Bloodstein - Author of the classic work 'A Handbook on Stuttering', now in its sixth edition, Oliver Bloodstein passed away this month.

ASICS British 10k London Run The 10th annual British 10K Run took place on Sunday 11th July 2010. The BSA had a fantastic group of eight runners who spent months training and fundraising for the race.

June 2010

The Stammurai This free iPhone/ iPod touch game has been created by young people age 13-18 who stammer.

Catherine Montgomery Catherine Montgomery, director and founder of the American Institute for Stuttering, passed away at the end of May after an extended fight against cancer. Her work inspired changes to City Lit courses in London.

April 2010

Stammering lecturer wins award second year running Grant Meredith has been voted by students top lecturer at his University in Australia for 2009, the second year running.

March 2010

Further boost for North of England stammering centre The Schools Secretary Ed Balls has announced a further £500,000 to help fund a new centre for children who stammer in West Yorkshire.

Have Your Say on the BSA BSA's new Development Committee, nicknamed The Stammering Dragons' Den, is seeking input from members.

February 2010

Stammering genes Dr Dennis Drayna and his team have identified three genes which are mutated in a proportion of people who stammer.

TV: 'Newsround' Item about stammering on BBC1's Newsround, including short interviews with a 10-year girl who stammers and with Gareth Gates. You can still see it on the Newsround website.

Ex-prisoner is straightening things out Johnny has been in prison and had difficulties with drugs and alcohol. However, he has not only appeared on local radio to talk about his stammer but was recently awarded a Certificate in honour of the work he has done for people in the cold weather.

January 2010

Self-help groups: Opening new ones and what activities are valuable for members There is currently a wide ranging discussion in various countries about self-help groups, e.g. usefulness, how to start them, activities to carry out, etc. Keith Boss invites people to join in discussion on the stutteringselfhelp Yahoo group.

News about TISA (The Indian Stammering Association) Keith Boss is touring India to meet self-help groups. There is a list of dates - get in touch if you know anyone interested.

Ed Balls talks about his stammer In an interview with the Telegraph newspaper, Ed Balls MP has spoken for the first time in detail about having to deal with an interiorised stammer.

December 2009

BSA is now on Facebook, Bebo, Twitter and MySpace We will be updating these regularly with news, events, comments, links to articles and blogs. Also we want to encourage dialogue - please feel free to contribute and have your say.

December 2009

Fluency Trust and 'Speak' film now online The Fluency Trust now has a website. You can view online the full version of its film 'Speak', for young people who stammer. Also details of the Trust's outdoor activity and intensive therapy courses.

Running to the limits Alex Vero, a filmmaker who stammers, presented his first major documentary on Channel 4 in December. Channel 4 are due to re-show it on 31st January.

November 2009

The BIG Cake Bake Charmaine Burrow and Alison McLaughlin, SLTs at East Lancanshire PCT, raised £186 for BSA though selling cakes and Christmas cards at a staff meeting. You can order their Christmas cards in aid of BSA, drawn by children who stammer.

Leeds to Porthcawl cycle ride Richard Lloyd cycled from Leeds to Porthcawl, in mid-November. You can follow the ride on his website.

Tribute to Peter Kissagizlis Peter, who died this month, was co-founder of the Hull and East Yorkshire Stammerers' Self-Help Group and a key figure in raising awareness of cluttering.

October 2009

Stammering Information Programme is launched A new resource for teachers by the Michael Palin Centre was launched on 20th October. Ed Balls also announced money towards a new specialist centre in the north of England.

Channel swim video Rachel Reed has just swum the English Channel, in 17 hours 23 minutes. You can watch the YouTube video of the swim, and sponsor her online to raise funds for BSA.

September 2009

Misleading adverts - you can help We have been campaigning against advertisments that give false hope by offering to 'cure' stammering. You can help for Stammering Awareness Day 2009 by flagging offending YouTube videos.

London to Brighton walk This summer Pepe Ghumra and his brother did a 50 mile walk from London to Brighton, in aid of BSA. You can sponsor them online.

August 2009

International award for BSA At their recent World Congress in Brazil, the International Fluency Association awarded the IFA Consumer Award of Distinction 2009 to the British Stammering Association.

July 2009

Stammering in Parliament Leys Geddes, now BSA Chair, gave evidence about people who stammer to a House of Commmons committee this June. The committee is looking into under-representation of various groups in Parliament. June 2009.

Fluency Trust film: 'Speak' The Fluency Trust have released a film "for young people who stammer, made by young people who stammer." You can watch a trailer online.

Before July 2009

Film for NAHT conference At the 2009 National Association of Head Teachers conference in Brighton, the voices of our young people could be heard in a new BSA film. You can watch it online. May 2009.

RCSLT: double MBE success The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) is celebrating the award of two MBEs to its senior staff members in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours. June 2009.

Peter Kissagizlis recognised for work on cluttering The International Cluttering Association (ICA) has honoured Peter Kissagizlis with a lifetime achievement award for services to the promotion of awareness of cluttering. March 2009.

Action Plan on Children's Services The Government launched its Action Plan responding to the Bercow Review in December 2008.

Tokyo marathon Marcus Everard completed the Tokyo Marathon in just over 3½ hours. He has a fundraising target of £5000.

Peter Kissagizlis recognised for work on cluttering The International Cluttering Association has honoured Peter Kissagizlis with a lifetime achievement award for services to the promotion of awareness of cluttering.

Wales and the West Open Day, Cardiff, 2008 Around 90 people packed into the hall of St Marks Church in Cardiff for the third of our Open Days in 2008, celebrating the 30th Anniversary of BSA.

London Open Day, 2008 More than 85 people attended our London Open Day at Bethnal Green. The event was organised by BSA trustee Tanveer Rameez Ali.

New Year Honour Dr Steve Davis of University College London has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours list, for his services to children with communication disorders.

London 10km run - July 2008 BSA's 8 runners completed the race despite wind and rain, and have raised over £3000 plus gift aid.

Norwich Open Day, 2008 Events around the country to help celebrate BSA's 30th Anniversary kicked off with a successful Norwich Open Day in April.

Queen's Prize for City Lit The Queen's Anniversary Prize, honouring outstanding achievement and excellence in UK universities and colleges, has been awarded to City Lit, for their internationally recognised work with adults who stammer.

Landy Rally 2007 sponsored event Craig and Louise Tweedie's Landy Rally drive in September 2007 raised over £1350 for BSA. The rally covered 8 European countries in 7 days - 2300 miles!

Stand up - Speak up! BSA Scotland at ELSA 2007 Four Scottish delegates attended this year's ELSA youth meeting, entitled 'Stand up, Speak up', along with Jan Anderson and a drama worker from TAG Theatre Company, Glasgow.

Scottish delegation to Croatia World Congress, 2007 Three delegates to provide a slice of their Congress experience. There are also videos of Congress workshops at www.personal-style.de/fc/worldcongress.

Bob Adams skydive Can you imagine standing at the edge of a door, looking out - looking down.....2 miles....knowing that in a few seconds time you will be falling at 120mph - for a mile?!?!

Cambridge Open Day, 2007 Over one hundred people who stammer, speech therapists, students and academics participated in the first open day run by the Cambridge self help group on 14th April.

BSA London Open Day 2006 Tanveer Ali, the organiser, writes about BSA's Open Day in Bethnal Green.

A Farewell to the Sunday Socials The final London Sunday social event held on 8th October 2006. The 'Stammering Socials' start in April 2007.

BSA Conference 2006, Telford Velda Osborne, chair of the organising committee, reflects on feedback from our September 2006 conference.

Knoydart summer social and fundraising event BSA Scotland's weekend event on the Knoydart peninsula in June 2006 was a resounding success, with a mix of stammering/non-stammering participants.

Stammering Awareness Day bag-packs, 2005 Bag-packs in London and Reading raised funds and stammering awareness for International Stammering Awareness Day.

Prestigious award BSA webmaster, Allan Tyrer, and three professionals who specialise in stammering have received awards from the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Freedom to speak in Hyde Park Over 120 BSA members, family and friends came to a picnic in Hyde Park, in June 2005.

Trip to Stockholm conference Six members of the Sunday Socials group went to the Stockholm Stuttering Organisation conference in May. A trip to Finland is planned for 2006.

Visit to the Scottish Parliament Eight people who stammer gave evidence to the Equal Opportunites Committee - June 2005.

MBE for Roberta Lees Roberta Lees, one of the foremost UK researchers into stammering, has been awarded an MBE in this year's Birthday Honours List.

Aberdeen Open Day 2005 82 people came to BSA Scotland's first Open Day in April 2005. Speakers included Shona Robison, MSP.

BSA Christmas Party, 2004 Almost 120 people celebrated our third Christmas party at the Bonnington Hotel in London, in December 2004.

Hull Open Day 2004 and Sunday Socials weekend Open Day organised by Hull & East Yorkshire Stammerers Self-Help Group, with the Sunday Socials group coming for the weekend.

BSA National Conference 2004 Stirling BSA's largest conference so far, held in Scotland. You can can hear the conference song.

Stammering Awareness Day Bag-packs 2004 Thank you to all who helped us raise over £2,700 at our supermarket bag-packs this October.

World Congress for People Who Stutter, 2004 First reports from the World Congress in Perth, Western Australia. The event happens every three years - the next is 2007 in Croatia.

Wrestling with words Listen online to this BBC programme on stammering, originally broadcast in February 2004.

BSA 25th anniversary party On Sunday 7 December 2003 more than 100 people joined in the celebrations to commemorate the BSA 25th anniversary...

International Stammering Awareness Day 2003 ISAD this year saw the launch of our School CD-R0Ms, and a 'Bring a Pound to Work or School Day.'

European Year 2003 was the European Year of People with Disabilities.

Silver Jubilee conference, Leeds Pictures and articles from our 25th anniversary conference.

Trans-Icelandic Challenge 2003 Dominic Edwards has successfully completed his Iceland coast to coast trek in aid of BSA. Dominic completed the challenge in just 9 days. He is still happy to accept sponsorship.

Snowdon Challenge 2003 Eleven intrepid walkers climbed Snowdon 1, 2 or 3 times, raising money for BSA. August 2003.

3 Peaks Challenge Up Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in aid of BSA. June 2003.

Radio 4 Appeal Thank to our patron Margaret Drabble and all who contributed for helping to make our recent Radio 4 Appeal the most successful yet.

Sheffield Communication Open Day A clear 'MISSION ACCOMPLISHED' from Sheffield Speakeasy's event in June 2003.

Feel the power of a bag-pack A team of almost 25 BSA volunteers packed shopping bags for hundreds of grateful Leeds shoppers on Easter Saturday 2003, who in turn gave £1100 to BSA's work.

BSA Christmas Lunch Party - "Euston, we have lift off" December 2002 - a first for BSA. Rachel Albert writes about the party she organised.

Christmas cracker concert in Kilmarnock BSA's joint fundraising concert with West Sound radio in Scotland last December raised almost £3000.

Many thanks to Christmas Appeal donors The 2002 Christmas Appeal has been very successful, thanks to a wonderful response from all our members.

Hull Open Day 2002 October 2002 - organised by the Hull & East Yorkshire Stammerers Self-Help Group. Rachel Albert writes about her visit.

Bungee for BSA Bob Adams and Simon Zipperlen have successfully completed a tandem bungee jump in aid of BSA.

Conference 2002 Pictures of our London conference last September

Lands End to John o'Groats Stephen Sheasby's 1100 mile cycle ride in aid of BSA also helped overcome a fear - of talking about stammering.

Look back at previous BSA conferences