The University Student Prizes is an annual prize of £300 which will be awarded to a student from each of the participating Universities that offer Speech and Language Therapy courses. The prize will be inaugurated this autumn for the 2007-2008 academic year. The criterion for the prizes, quite simply, is that they should be awarded for an excellent ‘piece of work’ relating to aphasia. The ‘piece’ can be either for academic or practical work: an essay, a piece of research, clinical practice, conversation partner or similar scheme – each University has been invited to develop their own approach, to fit in with their own style and programme. This project will be reviewed after five years. Find out more

The Small Grants Scheme was founded in February 2006 and since then the Trust has given a total of over £22,000 to individuals with aphasia and aphasia organisations in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. Many have benefited from receiving Stroke and Aphasia Handbooks, attending creative writing workshops, purchasing photographic equipment designed for the disabled, attending computer courses, receiving computers and computer software. We have taken great pleasure in hearing that the funding given to someone to attend a computer course has helped them on the path to returning to work. When we hear about how someone has made significant improvements in confidence and expressive language skills from using software which was funded under this scheme, it brings it home to us just how worthwhile this scheme is and how we want to continue to help individuals who are not able to get help from other sources. Find out more

Speakeasy is a charity based in Lancashire offering long-term support to people with aphasia and their carers across the North West. Speakeasy has a computer suite for people to use with the support of volunteers trained specifically to support people who have aphasia in using computers. To help them in the development of the computer suite, we are funding a 3 year computer therapy pilot study which started in April 2007. They are working in conjunction with Jane Mortley of StepByStep Consultancy in Gloucestershire who is providing the application and support of the StepByStep software which has been developed specifically for people with aphasia to target word finding difficulties. One of the areas the project is working on is the development of an Outreach Service. This is a package of home visits with regular remote-updating of therapy exercises using the internet. We are all very excited about this project and the outcomes one of which we hope will make therapy more accessible to people who are unable to attend groups. Find out more

The University of Newcastle upon Tyne Aphasia Clinic The Trust continues to part-fund a Speech and Language Therapist position within the Aphasia Centre which is located in the University. The centre offers a unique blend of individual and group therapy three times a week consisting of 2 short days and 1 longer day. In 2002 a charity called NETA: The North East Trust for Aphasia was set up by people who attended the clinic who wanted to be able to offer long term support for people with aphasia and their carers. NETA funds a support centre which runs each week on a Thursday with various groups taking place such as communication, photography, internet and relatives groups. The service runs as a complementary to the therapy services offered in the Aphasia Centre. Their website is www.neta.org.uk.
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The “Access to Life” project in Cornwall is a 3.5 year programme developed by Connect, the Communication Disability Network. The Trust is part funding the project which in April will be in its 3rd year. The multi-agency initiative – based on a partnership between Connect, the Royal Cornwall NHS Trust, the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT, Adult Social Care and The Stroke Association – aims to extend the range, length and choice of opportunities for people living with stroke, aphasia and other long term conditions in Cornwall. Sally Byng, Project Director tells us that they have developed a thirty-strong group of leaders across Cornwall who have become known as ‘Aphasia Activists’ and are driving the project at a fast pace. They have also set up three ‘Hubs’ across the country, led by people with aphasia. These Hubs are developing new activities for people with aphasia and setting up a governance structure for self-support networks to ensure that their work continues when the project is finished. Find out more