STAMMA appoints high-flyers

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(L-R): Cate, Fiona & Penny

To support our ambitious new strategy 'Space to Stammer', we have appointed three fundraising and comms experts to our Board of Trustees.

Cate Birch, Head of Fundraising at York Minster and Fiona Stewart, Philanthropy Lead at Comic Relief, collectively bring over 42 years' experience of fundraising between them. 

Here at STAMMA we are aiming to raise significant funds over the next five years to help mainstream acceptance of stammering, and support organisations to adapt their processes and training so they don't exclude this community. 

Cate and Fiona will be part of a highly skilled team including recently appointed Chair Elect, Roger Pim (we'll put up more details when Roger takes over as Chair), and highly experienced communications expert Trustee Penny East, who has also just been recruited to the Board.

41% of people who stammer find it hard to make a GP appointment because of negative responses to how they talk. This is just one instance of how the barriers faced in everyday activities can be utterly disabling. With these postings combined, STAMMA will significantly increase our campaigning and philanthropic reach to help create significant change for people who stammer.

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Cate

Cate Birch

Cate brings 25 years' experience in fundraising and philanthropy, specialising in Trusts and Foundations and the high net-worth individuals behind them. She has supported a wide range of causes, advising on and shaping programmes of work for engaging funding approaches. 

Cate said, "I'm the parent of a young adult who stammers. I attended the STAMMAFest conference in 2022 with my daughter and was incredibly impressed with the global community spirit, creativity, and honest and supportive debate. I'm looking forward very much to broadening my understanding of stammering and helping to ensure long term sustainability for the charity".

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Fiona

Fiona Stewart

Fiona has over 17 years' experience in planning and delivering successful fundraising programmes and teams across a range of income streams. She specialises in major giving and has led fundraising departments in a senior leadership position. She works for organisations that are forward thinking and aligned with her own values and ambitions to create positive social and environmental change. 

Fiona commented, "It is important to me that I connect with the organisations I work with and that their values and strategy for change fit with my own. I had a stammer from being a child to a young adult, and I understand the many challenges faced by people who stammer".

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Penny

Penny East

Penny is currently Director of External Relations at Think Ahead. She brings 24 years' experience in communications to the board as an experienced and compassionate comms & policy leader in the non-profit sector; an expert in increasing influence, income and impact. 

Penny said, "I hope to bring external relations expertise across communications, policy and fundraising to STAMMA, and ensure its excellent brand is being fully utilised so campaigns are won and STAMMA's impact is more widely known".

Over the past 5 years, we have followed a plan to consolidate our operations and services, boasting helpline and advocacy services, training, employment and family support. With over 6,000 members and supporters, our new 5-year strategy, 'Space to Stammer' now focuses on creating critical societal change. 

CEO Jane Powell said, "The addition of Cate, Fiona and Penny to the board gives us a fantastic base of experience to help fund our groundbreaking ambition to create real and long lasting change for people growing up with a stammer".

Read more about our Trustees. To get more involved, become a STAMMA Member for free and we'll keep you up to date with our activities and campaigns.