Colin Firth and Ed Balls host private screening for ASC

Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth and Ed Balls, former Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer and Strictly star, hosted a private screening of Kingsman: The Golden Circle to raise funds for Action for Stammering Children (ASC), the largest charity in the UK dedicated to transforming the lives of children and young people who stammer.

The audience were thrilled by the latest Matthew Vaughn  action thriller Kingsman: The Golden Circle.  A memorable death in the first instalment Kingsman: The Secret Service, did not prevent Colin returning for a sequel as the stylish Hart; the audience were one of the first to know the  closely guarded secret about how he survived.  

On the night, ASC raised just under £40,000 to help support specialist speech and language therapy for children and young people who stammer.

Prior to viewing the film the audience enjoyed a Q&A with Colin and Ed, both talking movingly about their experiences of stammering:

Colin Firth, Vice President of Action for Stammering Children, said:

“The King’s Speech taught me not only the cruelty of having a stammer, but also the life-changing benefits specialist therapy can bring. Just as Lionel Logue unleashed the passion of a King, so too Action for Stammering Children is unlocking the potential of thousands of children in the UK every year.”

Fellow ASC Vice President and Former Shadow Chancellor of Exchequer, Ed Balls, who has a stammer added:

“As someone who had help and support in dealing with my own stammer, I share ASC’s aim of making sure every child gets the chance to learn to cope with theirs, so they can achieve their full potential with confidence.”

Jo Hunter Chair of Action for Stammering Children, added:

“We are so honoured to have Vice Presidents Colin and Ed host this amazing evening, which has been generously sponsored, so every penny raised will go directly to Action for Stammering Children.  Last year we transformed the lives of more than 4,000 children and young people across the UK who stammer, all of whom have a voice, and all of whom have a right to be heard.  Our small charity can make a big difference to the lives and opportunities of all children who stammer.”