Press release -
Scroobius Pip Becomes Patron of British Stammering Association
London, Monday, 1st July 2019 — Actor, rapper and leading UK podcaster, Scroobius Pip has become the newest Patron of the British Stammering Association (BSA).
The creator and owner of Speech Development Records, Pip has been a long-time supporter of the British Stammering Association and was the presenter of the charity’s 2018 BBC Lifeline Appeal. Pip joins the charity as it is about to launch its largest-ever awareness campaign, Stamma, which aims to tackle public perceptions of what it means to stammer and remove the shame, stigma, intolerance and misunderstanding experienced by people who stammer.
Scroobius Pip said: “For many, stammering is still seen as joke with people not fully appreciating the impact a stammer can have. I’ve always been very open about my stammer and hope my involvement with the British Stammering Association will encourage others to share their stories and for those who don’t stammer to take stammering a bit more seriously. What the BSA does is immense; offering information and support to people who can sometimes feel very isolated and frustrated by the way the world sees them. I’m so proud to be a Patron.”
Jane Powell, CEO,the British Stammering Association, added: “It’s brilliant to have Pip join us, especially as we’re about to embark on what we hope will be our truly game-changing Stamma campaign. Pip’s experience with stammering and his candid discussion of what it can feel like to have a stammer is inspiring.”
Scroobius Pip created, hosts and produces the hugely-popular Distraction Pieces podcast. The fastest-growing weekly podcast in the UK, Distraction Pieces features conversations with guests including Russell Brand, Katherine Ryan, Simon Pegg, Kathy Burke, Alan Moore, James McAvoy, Aisling Bea, Stewart Lee, Michael Fassbender, Josie Long, Adam Buxton and many more. Pip is also an accomplished actor, having most recently appeared in the BBC Drama ‘Taboo’ as French Bill.
Pip joins the British Stammering Association's existing Patrons, all of whom have direct experience of stammering:
●Broadcaster and former MP, Ed Balls
●Celebrated writer, Dame Margaret Drabble DBE
●Former MP and MSP, John McAllion
●Acclaimed author, David Mitchell
●Entertainer, Sir Nicholas Parsons
●Businessman and broadcaster, Arwel Richards
●Original ‘super agent’, Jon Smith
●Politician, Baroness Whitaker.
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About Stammering
Stammering is primarily a neurological condition which usually arises during the development of the brain in childhood. Stammering is frequently hereditary and if it continues into adulthood, will mainly affect men. A stammer is an intense struggle to physically get words out; this is profoundly different from the usual hesitations and repetitions most people experience. Research suggests that 8% of children will stammer at some point with up 1.5 million (3%) UK adults reporting that they have a stammer.
About the British Stammering Association
Founded in 1978, the British Stammering Association is a national registered charity dedicated to creating a better world for people who stammer. Through its website: stamma.org, helpline and backing of local meetup and self-help groups, the British Stammering Association provides information and support for people who stammer and those living, supporting or working with them. The BSA is a membership organisation with members taking an active role in the election of trustees and in the strategic direction of the charity.
The BSA are launching their biggest-ever awareness campaign Stamma, this summer aiming to tackle public perceptions of what it means to stammer and remove the shame, stigma, intolerance and misunderstanding experienced by people who stammer. Physically, stammering can be deeply frustrating, but the main problem, time and again, is other people's responses, stereotyping, and assumptions made when they hear someone stammer. Find out more at Stamma.org. Registered Charity Numbers 1089967 / SC038866.
