STAMMA Appoints High-Flyers to Support 'Space to Stammer'

In support of the charity’s ambitious new strategy ‘Space to Stammer’ the organisation has appointed two high-flying fundraising experts to their 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.

STAMMA are aiming to raise significant funds, over the next 5 years to help them mainstream acceptance of stammering and support organisations to adapt their processes and training so they don’t exclude this community.

Fiona and Cate will be part of a highly skilled team including recently appointed Chair Elect, Roger Pim and highly experienced communications expert Trustee Penny East, who has also just been recruited to the Board.

Combined, STAMMA will significantly increase its campaigning and philanthropic reach, creating the significant change in societal and corporate acceptance and adjustment to the needs of people who stammer.

41% of people who stammer find it hard to make a GP appointment, because of peoples' responses to how they talk. Just one instance of how the barriers faced in everyday activities can be utterly disabling.

This trailblazing investment in one of the last hidden and misunderstood disabilities has the potential to create significant change. Please do reach out to our team to talk about how you can play a part in this.

Cate Birch 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."

Fiona Stewart 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 Stewart 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."

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

Over the past 5 years, STAMMA has followed a plan to consolidate its operations and services, boasting helpline and advocacy services, training, employment and family support. With over 6,000 members and supporters, their 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 ground-breaking ambition to create real and long lasting change for people growing up with a stammer."

About STAMMA

As a charity, STAMMA has been representing people who stammer since 1978. We stand up for and embolden those who stammer, provide support and information, and challenge discrimination wherever we find it.

We exist to create a world that makes space for stammering. Where it's embraced as just a difference. Where no-one is judged on their stammer or the way they choose to deal with it. We’ll get there by bringing people together, whether they stammer or not, to propel a movement for change.