Vulnerability Registration Service partnership

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John

We've teamed up with a free service letting you flag to companies that you stammer before contacting them.

Contacting organisations to sort something out can be a real faff. If you stammer, explaining your needs can be especially difficult, particularly if you want to speak to them about stressful situations, like dealing with debt or financial pressure. 

That's why we're really pleased to share some great news! We've teamed up with the Vulnerability Registration Service (VRS) to make things easier. 

What is the VRS?

The Vulnerability Registration Service is a national organisation that hosts a central, independent database of people with 'vulnerabilities'. It allows companies to identify if a customer or service user needs extra support when communicating with them.

The VRS has now added speech, language and communication differences to their list of things you can flag, so if you sign up for the service, every time you contact an organisation that has partnered with the VRS, they'll know ahead of time that you stammer and will communicate in a way that works for you.

It has a 'tell us once' system, designed to help you avoid having the same difficult conversations with banks, lenders and other organisations. So you won’t have to explain your situation over and over again every time you speak to someone new. 

Here at STAMMA we're not too keen on the term 'vulnerable' — a stammer on its own doesn't necessarily mean someone is vulnerable. But it's an umbrella term companies use for those who might need extra support when contacting them.

Want to give it a go?

If this sounds like it could help you, or someone you know, we really encourage you to register. It's completely free, takes just a few minutes, and you can update your information anytime.

1. Head to the Vulnerability Registration Services website,
2. click on 'Register yourself' to create your account.
3. When you get to Step 2, simply choose 'Speech, Language, Communication Differences'. 

Remember, this isn't just for people who stammer — it's for anyone who finds communication difficult at times. It's a small change that can make a big difference and help you get the support you need.

Read about other ways we're working with organisations to make space for stammering.