Become a 'Friend of Speakability'

Speakability helps people with Aphasia to overcome the barriers they face by:

• providing advice and information - for people with Aphasia, their families, carers, health and social care professionals
• offering practical support and opportunities - for people with Aphasia, leading to the rebuilding of communications skills, self-confidence and independence through a national network of Self-Help Groups
• campaigning and raising greater awareness - of Aphasia as a hidden disability to bring greater understanding and improved services
• raising funds - to do this sustainably.

  Jane's Story

  "Without the help of my friends at Speakability I just couldn't have coped. They played a big part in my recovery. Their encouragement and support has helped me to regain my sense of self-worth."

At 46, Jane was enjoying a hectic but rewarding teaching career. Overnight, a stroke changed her whole life. She was totally paralysed down her left side and she lost all her speech. She could hear the doctor talking to her and wanted to reply but no words came. Jane was very frightened.

Over the next few months she also became very frustrated and found herself getting angry when others took over conversations - just assuming that they knew what she wanted to say. It was hard for her to socialise without the skills she used to have and which we all take for granted. She found it increasingly difficult to stay positive. Everything seemed so hopeless.

Then, Jane heard about Speakability from her speech therapist. She suggested that Jane should join one of the charity's network of self-help groups.

This local group became a lifeline to Jane. The group's members were all ages. They came from a variety of backgrounds and had different degrees of Aphasia. Their common link was a shared understanding of each others' needs. The group gave Jane time to say her words and helped her to overcome her feelings of frustration. Together they discovered and practiced their 'total' communication skills and organised a variety of social activities. New friendships were forged and still remain today.

Seven years on, Jane continues to be an active supporter of Speakability. She is very much involved in the charity's campaigning work. As someone who has made a reasonably good recovery, she believes that she is ideally placed to speak up on behalf of others with Aphasia. She wants to ensure that their views are well represented and fully heard.

To do this important work, Speakability relies increasingly heavily on donations from individual supporters. These funds are vital and we really do value every single donation. By far the most useful gift is one that comes to us on an annual basis, especially by Direct Debit. These gifts enable the charity to plan for the future and help us to give good value for money.

Please help us by completing a 'Friends of Speakability' Application Form today.

Your support is vital. It will enable Speakability to help people just like Jane to live a full life and to help them overcome their speech and language disability.

'Friends of Speakability' membership is available at three levels:

Bronze Level
minimum annual donation of £10.00

£1.00 each month by direct debit = £12.00 p.a.
Benefits: copies of newsletter ('Speaking Up'), plus advance notice of
Speakability events.

Silver Level
minimum annual donation of £25.00

£2.50 each month by direct debit = £30.00 p.a.
Benefits: as Bronze level, plus Information Pack and discounted tickets for Speakability's lectures and events.

Gold Level
minimum annual donation of £100.00

£10.00 each month by direct debit = £120.00 p.a.
Benefits: as Silver level, plus an invitation to a special 'Friends' event each year.