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We are thrilled to announce that applications are now open for our latest partnership project, Growing Voices – an outdoor club for children who stammer.
Growing Voices is located in County Durham and led by our partner and specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Jaclyn. The sessions offer a friendly and supportive play group specifically designed for children aged 7–12 with a stammer.
These outdoor sessions focus on child-led play, creating a natural environment where every child feels empowered to build their confidence and share their voice at their own pace.
Children will enjoy a variety of nature-based activities, such as:
Jaclyn brings a wealth of expertise in supporting children who stammer and their families. With her child-centred approach to building children’s confidence, these sessions are designed to foster joy, new friendships, and a supportive space for talking and listening.
Growing Voices will run until December 2026. The programme is made up of Monday after school Youth Club sessions and Fun Days during school holidays. You can find the programme dates at the end of this article.
Please note this is not a formal speech therapy session.
Have questions? Scroll down to find our FAQs.
If you think your child would be interested in joining this outdoor club or you know a family in the area who would benefit from this supportive environment, please share this information with your community and local schools.
Growing Voices is based in County Durham, approximately 20-minutes by car from Durham and Gateshead, and a 25 minute drive from Darlington and Newcastle. However, we welcome applications from families living outside of the local area.
Apply using the form below. We will be in touch to discuss the next steps once we receive your details.
If you’d like to have an informal chat about the programme before applying, you can contact either:
ASC Support Hub Advisor, Grace: [email protected];
or, our delivery partner, Jaclyn: [email protected]
Youth Club Sessions (5:15pm – 6:45pm)
7th September – Youth Club session 1
14th September – Youth Club session 2
21st September – Youth Club session 3
5th October – Youth Club session 4
12th October – Youth Club session 5
Fun Days (9:30am-11:30am)
30th July – Fun Day 1
13th August – Fun Day 2
27th August – Fun Day 3
October (tbc) – Halloween Fun Day
December (tbc) – Christmas Fun Day
| Why is it beneficial for my child to connect with other children who stammer? | When children are surrounded by people who understand their experience, they often feel more comfortable opening up and letting their stammer show, rather than working hard to hide it. This is good for building their self-awareness, confidence and communication skills. |
| Could discussing their stammer upset my child? | When children can discuss their stammer in a safe space, they learn how to be open about it in everyday life. This builds confidence and teaches them how to put listeners at ease, whether that's a new friend or a supply teacher. Being able to communicate openly and explain their stammer is a fantastic lifelong skill. By removing the stigma, we open the door for friends, parents, and teachers to offer the right kind of support. |
| What happens in the sessions? | Play, and plenty of fun activities! We believe a stammer is just one small part of who a child is, nestled alongside many other interesting and unique traits. Our goal is for children to see themselves as whole people, and to recognise that they are capable and confident while also learning to understand and talk about their stammer. These conversations happen naturally while we're busy doing other great things, whether that's building, planting, playing pool, throwing a ball, or eating a hot dog! |
| Where are the sessions? | The Allotment Project in Waterhouses, Durham DH7. All of our sessions take place outdoors on the allotment and in the neighbouring woods. We have a covered area to keep us dry if it rains, but it is highly likely the children will get a bit dirty (and maybe a little wet if it’s time to water the garden!). |
| What do parents do? | Parents are a vital part of our community. We ask that parents stay on-site during the sessions and, where possible, keep it a phone-free zone. It’s a lovely opportunity to watch your child get stuck into the activities, enjoy a coffee, and chat with other parents as well as Jaclyn, our speech and language therapist. |
| How do I sign up? | Simply fill out the application form, and Jaclyn will be in touch with further details. |
You can find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about stammering by taking a look at our Support Hub Knowledge Articles
Go to support hub
