I 100% encourage anyone who stammers to go to STAMMAFest

Thursday 11th July 2024

A montage of people in social situations

STAMMAFest 2022 attendees

Are you undecided about whether to come to our STAMMAFest conference on 15th-18th August? Worried about attending alone and speaking to new people? Not sure what to expect?

Hopefully these quotes from previous attendees Tash, Hanan, Abi, Mikey and Nicola will persuade you to come.

*Update: Sorry, the deadline for buying STAMMAFest tickets has now passed.

Tash

Attending this conference was an amazing experience. I was able to meet so many other people who stammer from many different countries and they all present their stammer in different ways.

Everyone was honestly so welcoming and friendly, it just created such a warm and inviting atmosphere.

And everyone was so open about their experiences. I encourage anyone with a stammer to come to the next one 100%.

Hanan

STAMMAFest exceeded my hopes and expectations. Conferences bring me community and remind me that I am not alone, and with each one I break down a bit more of the defences I've built up over the years to try and isolate myself from what I perceived as a terrifying world.

I learn more about how I can change my own self-limiting thoughts and beliefs about myself. The result is that the conferences give me energy, joy, and a will to help others to find theirs.

It had been three years since I had a decent dose of my oxygen, and...

...at STAMMAFest I felt better than I had for years.

Three people huddled together and smiling for the camera

Hanan (left) and new friends at STAMMAFest 2022

Abi

I didn't know what to expect from STAMMAFest — it being my first stammering conference — and I was bowled over by the care, bravery and compassion that went into the event.

The Saturday social was such a nice way to meet new people, connect and relax with some fantastic music and food.

It has given me inspiration to embrace the whole of my voice.

Mikey

Oh my days! Where do you start with the incredible adventure that was STAMMAFest 2022?

One of the talks was asking if there is beauty in stammering. I saw and felt that beauty many, many times over. The beauty of hugging old friends and shaking hands with new ones. The beauty in the patience of the listener and in the speaker, regardless of fluency. The sheer beauty of celebrating yourself and your speech at the open mic sessions. The beauty of constant chattering at mealtimes and welcoming strangers onto your table.

…everything I heard and the feelings the conference raised always take a few days to sink in. Feelings of inner pride for myself and the fellow people who stammer I spoke with.

Three people sitting in a lecture theatre and smiling at something off camera

STAMMAFest 2022 plenary audience members

Nicola

STAMMAFest 2022 brought so much more than I ever anticipated. It evoked real, raw emotion.

I've known for a long time the benefits of community. I've always known that there is beauty in stammering but at STAMMAFest I really felt it. I felt completely immersed in it, welcomed, connected.

Every workshop or session was an enjoyable opportunity to learn, reflect and share. The final open mic session, the sharing and celebration of voices, was one of the most moving and poignant moments. I felt privileged to be a part of it and see how the beauty touched each and every soul.

I'm so glad I decided to attend. I have made friends for life.

But my learning was far beyond the scope of the classroom — it was in every interaction, every voice heard, every conversation had, going out to the bars, a chat over coffee at breakfast, listening to stories. These connections brought warmth, joy and motivation, and have enriched my life.

Meeting new people at STAMMAFest 2022

I came away with an overriding sense of the power of community, way beyond anything I have ever read about. There was a joining together, a connected-ness and the benefits shone at STAMMAFest.

The sense of PRIDE in stammering was tangible and just so lovely to see. But also, I saw first-hand the seed starting to sow in those who didn't feel proud or see the beauty. I came away from the conference with a warm joy that I wanted to hold on to forever.

As a speech & language therapist, listening and chatting to people and their experiences of stammering and speech therapy were highly motivating for inspiring change and thinking about what I could do differently.

STAMMAFest has opened new doors for me in my thinking, learning, connections. The single most and biggest learning experience of my life! So, for those who are passionate about learning about stammering, I'd definitely recommend a visit in 2024!

See you there if you're coming!