ASC Desert Challenge Appeal

In 2022, Action for Stammering Children became the nominated charity for the 2024 Nefud Expedition, Striking the Sun’s Anvil. Through this partnership, we launched the Desert Challenge Appeal, which aims to raise £120,000 to continue funding places for children and young people who stammer on our transformational Talking Out stammering courses.

The stammering courses delivered in partnership with Talking Out Ltd, are a central part of our offer to families and develop children’s confidence and resilience as well as promoting acceptance. We fund three courses a year, which are open to children and young people aged between 12 and 18, living anywhere in the UK.

Nefud team leader, Dr Alan Crofts, wanted to use the expedition to help raise funds for our work. Dr Crofts, who stammered as a child and is familiar with the impact the condition can have on children socially and emotionally, is also one of our ASC Stambassadors.

The Nefud Expedition Team are embarking on a gruelling journey across the northern Arabian Peninsula using environmentally friendly vehicles in May 2024. The most challenging region of the Desert is known as the Sun’s Anvil, which the local Bedouins consider impossible to cross by camel in the daytime because of the relentless heat, glare and lack of water.

The Desert Challenge Appeal formally launched with a special event at the October Gallery in July 2023. With over 60 guests in attendance, four of the young people who have benefited from the Talking Out courses spoke about the impact the course had on their confidence and the opportunities it provided to meet other young people who stammer and make new friends. Guests also had the chance to hear more from the expedition team, their passion for supporting our work and their commitment to promoting greater awareness about childhood stammering.

Due to the instability in the region, the Nefud Expedition has been postponed to 2025. We continue to be the nominated charity for the new expedition and will provide an update to our supporters in due course. 

Press Releases
Action for Stammering Children becomes nominated charity for Nefud Sun’s Anvil Expedition