The National Conference for the British Stammering Association is in Cardiff from 31st August to 2nd September 2018 and – excitingly – I have been given a space to run a Eurythmy Workshop on the theme 'Promoting social awareness and confidence through movement'. Exciting indeed! But because the BSA is a very small Association contributors still have to pay the full conference fee and travel costs. It will cost me around £400 with the fees for using this platform.

EDIT: even though I have reached the £400 I will leave the crowdfunder open in the hope to get more to cover the cost of a Coaching and Mentoring course I want to do. The total cost of the two courses is £499.

So... If you'd like to support the cause of bringing the benefits of Eurythmy to those who stammer, please give as much or as little as you can. Anything will be much appreciated!

The Story:

Those of you who know me will know that I have had a stammer since childhood. For the last 20 years I have been finding ways of dealing with what can be a very disabling impairment in a positive and holistic way. In 2009 I started Eurythmy training (a 4-year movement art training) and from the moment I experienced the social Eurythmy exercises at the beginning of my training I had a very strong sense that they could help people who stammer with social anxiety and tension and an equally strong desire to work with this once I finished my training.

Fast forward 4-5 years to when I had graduated and moved to Scotland. The thought about my previous inclination came up, but I thought it would be impossible and focused on building up Eurythmy work in other areas. One evening I had a Facebook message on my craft account from a woman in London who had seen a photo of the crochet baby booties I designed and helped people find the pattern. We messaged back and forth and I sent her a friend request so she could add me to a Facebook crochet group. Shortly after this she posted a link to her husband's blog about stammering in business. He has also had a stammer since childhood and has done a lot to promote tolerance and awareness of stammering in the business world. Call it coincidence, call it serendipity, call it whatever you want – they are now both good friends and it is through getting to know them that I realised that there still is a lot of stigma and stereotyping connected to stammering in all parts of society and that a lot of people who stammer struggle with social anxiety, lack of confidence and limiting beliefs about themselves.

So I feel absolutely called to doing this workshop. The Eurythmy training helped me a lot (although my wish to do it was not directly connected with my stammer) and I'm convinced that Eurythmy can bring great benefits to other people who stammer. In the last year I have given two 90 minute talks to raise awareness about stammering in Edinburgh and I hope to be able to give more as well as being able to help other people who stammer take positive steps in their lives. You can see more about my Eurythmy work on www.movingpresence.co.uk

If you can't give anything please share this appeal with others who you think might. If I am fortunate enough to raise more than the needed amount I will take the liberty to use the excess towards a Coaching and Mentoring course I want to do so I have more concrete tools for helping others.

Thank you and in hope!