Press release -
GLOBAL CONFERENCE FOR PEOPLE WHO STAMMER A SELL OUT
In a UK first, over 340 guests from 17 countries around the world will attend an international conference for people who stammer this coming week, 24th-28th August, at Liverpool University, called ‘STAMMAFest Global’.
Delegates hail from Japan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, South Africa, India, the USA, Canada and across Europe. They join members of STAMMA, the British Stammering Association, who are hosting the conference at the invitation of the International Stuttering Association.
Speakers include people known for their words – actor and podcaster Scroobius Pip, author Hannah Tovey and the poet Owen Sheers will be in conversation with The New York composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist and writer, JJJJJerome Ellis.
In another session, stammering activist Patrick Campbell will examine how to create positive change for people who stammer, alongside fellow activist Georgia Scott, who has 192K followers on TikTok, while CEO of STAMMA Jane Powell speaks to Barrister Yvette Genn about litigating for change.
Over five days, 50 workshops will cover everything from the daily discrimination that people who stammer face, stammering pride, stammering in movies and making the workplace and education settings inclusive for those with speech differences. There will also be a Family Day for children who stammer and their parents.
Marcos Fernandez, CEO of Ibérica Restaurants, who are the main sponsors of the event, said, “Supporting STAMMA is part of our diversity and inclusion programme. We chose stammering to lead this since a member of the HR team and myself stammer”.
Chair of STAMMA, Joanna Gaukroger, expressed her excitement about the event: “We can see the start of real change for people who stammer - with Marks & Spencer recently adding a symbol to badges for employees who stammer like Megan Tomkies, and the BBC having Ed Sheeran read on CBeebies and mention his stammer. But we’ve so much further to go. We’ll have a chance to discuss this and find community with others who stammer at STAMMAFest Global this week”.
Other sponsors include:
- City Lit, the UK’s largest provider of adult courses, which has been providing support for those who stammer for over 50 years.
- Refinery, one of the top 10 privately owned integrated marketing agencies in the Northwest.
- YPO, which provides products and services to around 15,000 schools across the UK.
- Stamurai , a speech therapy app for stuttering.
- Kaleidoscope Health & Care , a consultancy of a different kind, bringing people together to improve health and care.
A separate Family Day, sponsored by Action for Stammering Children, will allow parents of children who stammer to learn more and meet other parents while their children and teenagers can connect with others like them and build confidence through a range of fun activities.
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Our Purpose
We exist to create a world that makes space for stammering. Where it's embraced as just a difference. Where no-one judges your stammer or the way you choose to deal with it. We’ll get there by bringing people together, whether they stammer or not, to propel a movement for change.
We will stand up for and embolden those who stammer, provide support and information, and challenge discrimination wherever we find it. We’ll fight for NHS speech and language therapy services for those want it. No matter how you talk, we're here for you.
Join us and help the public understand that stammering is not a sign of being drunk, dishonest, nervous or weak. It’s simply how some of us talk.
