Action for Stammering Children, the charity which supports the Michael Palin Centre, now funds a few young people each year to return to the Centre if they have suffered a setback. This can occur when the person moves into higher education or goes for their first job. They may only need a few therapy sessions to get back on track and it is wonderful that the charity is able to support this.
Occasionally we receive letters and emails from ‘old’ children, telling us that they came here when they were only ten, and now they are twenty-six and a secondary school teacher. Apart from making us feel old when we remember them, we are also so encouraged to know that they are realising their potential and that their stammer has not held them back. They often say they still stammer sometimes, but it is no longer an issue for them. Success!
Sometimes these ‘old boys’ and ‘old girls’ come in to speak to the current groups of young people and their parents. These are precious, inspirational moments, when today’s children can see that yesterday’s children who stammer have become the people they want to be, with the lives they want to live. Embodying all that can be achieved with the help of therapy and a good support system around them. And that is what we are here to do.
