Hello and thank you for taking time to read our newsletter.

Let's begin with the most important thing: our members. Here's a recent quote from one of our members with aphasia.

“Say Aphasia are so inclusive, they invite members like me to join in “Aphasia Awareness in the community” by going to different events and fund raising. Say Aphasia is more than a cup of coffee and a game of chess. It is the reason to get up and out and face the world and enjoy social interaction”

Continue reading to find out what we have been up to in the last 3 months.

NEW TRUSTEE! 

We are delighted to announce that our new trustee is our very own Peer Leader, Jez Hodgkinson, who runs the group in Winchester.

Jez has been running the Winchester group for the last 4 years, with 10 - 15 members with aphasia coming together every fortnight.  

He is extremely proactive with spreading the word about aphasia throughout his community - and even got the MP's speaking about our charity in Parliament. 

He engages his local community by inviting guests to chat to his group - visitors such as; local MPs, musicians, historians, City Mill National Trust, to name a few.

So we are delighted to have his experience, ideas and influence on the board of trustees.

Click here to read more about Jez's journey.

 

NEW GROUPS!

We are very pleased to announce our new group locations and welcome new peer leaders!

HASTINGS 

We welcome Carol and Nigel Gray!

 

HAYLING ISLAND

We welcome Janine North 

WORCESTER

Chris Greenhough, our Peer leader for our Gloucester group is also running Worcester.

YORK

We welcome back David Mortimer, who used to run our Chichester group and moved to York.

  

PRESS!

Podcast Appearance

A member with aphasia from our Exeter group spoke on this aphasia awareness podcast "On The Tip of My Tongue".

Click here to listen to the 30 minute episode.

 

BBC Radio Darlington

A very inspiring chat with our Peer Leader, Pete Coady, who speaks to his local BBC radio about his brain injury and aphasia.

   

CELEBRATING VOLUNTEERS WEEK: AWARD NOMINATIONS

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service: Celebrating the outstanding work of local volunteer groups across the UK

Our Hove group were nominated for the recognition of top volunteer group in Sussex, and received an invitation from the Lord-Lieutenant to attend a celebratory reception. Hosted by the Mayor of Eastbourne to celebrate this year’s nominees for the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in Sussex.

  

BBC Radio Sussex Make A Difference Awards

Colin Lyall has been chosen as a finalist in the BBC Radio Sussex and BBC Radio Surrey Make a Difference awards 2025!

 

BBC Radio Solent’s Make a Difference Awards

Jez Hodgkinson has also been chosen as a finalist for the same award in his local area!

After Colin and Jez were nominated, a group of community leaders selected people from hundreds of nominations in 8 categories to be finalists. Colin and Jez are finalists in the Volunteer category.

The judges were so impressed by their efforts and dedication.

  

Do you know of any awards we can nominate our volunteers for? Drop us an email with the information.

  

FUNDRAISING

Woodingdean challenge

The Woodingdean group took on several challenges and organised several activities to raise money. Raising a whopping £2,300!

£750 raised by the son of our Hove member

Donna, has been attending the Hove group for 4 years, and now helps out at the group serving the hot drinks. Her son, Henry took on a huge walking challenge to raise money for the charity which has supported his mother all these years.

You can still donate to Henry's page here.

 

 

SENDING OUR CONDOLENCES

Our international ambassador attended the recent Aphasia International Association meeting, which came to a saddening end. We send our best wishes and deepest sympathies to family and friends of Jernej Sluga, the AIA President.

 

 

---

   

We have so much more to tell you!

So we are now breaking up our newsletters into shorter monthly emails.

Our updates will continue at the end of July.

 

Missed out on the last newsletter? Click here to discover more.