As many of you know, I have had a stammer all my life. Through the support of my parents, my friends, my family and various professionals who helped me along the way, I have managed to build a fantastic life for myself but the scars and frustration that come from not always being able to express myself as I would like to remain.

I have now been a trustee of Action for Stammering Children for five years and continue to be deeply moved by the work done by this charity. ASC aims to help children and young people overcome the challenges created by their stammer and lead happy and fulfilling adult lives. They do this by increasing the availability of specialist services at the Michael Palin Centre in London and the Stammering Support Centre in Leeds, the only two centres in the UK where children can receive this kind of specialist intervention. In both centres, renowned experts are there to support children and their family, as well as to conduct much-needed quality research.

Your support will be greatly appreciated by these children and young people (and by me!).

Claudine