Some companies, organisations and professions have a network of staff who stammer. There may be one in your employer, or you could start one up.
Employment stammering networks can provide support and networking with other employees who stammer, and may have links to management. Several were set up under the auspices of the British Stammering Association’s former Employment Stammering Network.
50 million voices
Very much including the UK, 50 Million Voices is a global initiative providing leadership to help transform the world of work for people who stutter – benefiting employers and society too. Its vision is “A world where everyone who stutters can enjoy a rewarding working life and where more employers benefit from our talents and strengths”. It launched in spring 2019.
Website www.50millionvoices.org, twitter @50millionvoices. More on my website:
Particular employers
UK Civil Service Stammering Network
A network of civil servants across the UK who champion the needs of people who stammer and are passionate about creating inclusive communications cultures across the Civil Service. More:
- Facebook group information and links to contacts are on the CSSN website ukcssn.com, with individual ambassadors on ukcssn.com/our-network
- Civil Service Stammering Network (stamma.org).
NHS Stammering Network
Launched spring 2021, for NHS staff who stammer and their managers and colleagues. “We provide NHS staff with support and information on stammering, including easy access to useful resources and we offer recommendations on how to support staff who stammer in the workplace.” Includes workplace mentoring, and personal stories of NHS staff who stammer. Website nhsstammeringnetwork.uk. Also NHS Stammering Network (stamma.org).
Separate from that, see on Twitter “Stuttering in medicine”: @stutteringinmed.
STAMMA Defence (Defence Stammering Network)
An internal network for stammering in the armed forces, officially recognised in UK defence policy. It is open to both military and civilian employees of UK defence. See STAMMA Defence (stamma.org). Further links:
- Defence Stammering Network Facebook group: www.facebook.com/UKDSN/;
- articles on serving in the armed forces with a stammer: Examples of jobs done by people who stammer>Armed forces.
BBC Stammering Network
Launched June 2021. See BBC Stammering Support Network (stamma.org). Also BBC launches staff stammering network (stamma.org).
Police stammering support networks
The Met Police Stammering Support Network started in April 2021: go to Met Police Stammering Support Network (stamma.org).
- Article by the officer who relaunched the network: Sergeant Vee Gosai on his determination and upbringing – “Success is not a solo sport. It’s the people you have around you” (londonnewsonline.co.uk), October 2021.
Sussex Police (facebook.com) also have a stammering support network, and some other forces are starting them.
Other possible employer networks
These are older articles on employer networks. You can check whether they are still running.
- EY: Raising awareness at EY (archive of stammering.org), 2015 – launching It’s OK to stammer posters at leading accountancy firm EY (Ernst & Young);
- DHL: DHL stammering awareness posters (archive of stammering.org), 2016 – posters by the global logistics company to raise awareness of its Stammering Network.
Particular industries or roles
STAMMA Legal – for lawyers who stammer
A friendly and welcoming network for anyone with a stammer working in, or thinking about entering, the legal industry. It holds regular meetings and social events throughout the year. It also hopes to raise awareness of stammering within the legal industry, including around conducting interviews, assessments and working with employees who stammer. Website: www.stammeringlegal.com. (Also STAMMA Legal (stamma.org)).
STAMMA Educators
Teachers with a stammer, or teaching a child who stammers. Working in a school, nursery, or university. Started March 2022. Monthly meetings online. STAMMA Educators’ Stammering network (stamma.org).
Also New network for educators who stammer (stamma.org) and www.facebook.com/stammaeducators.
STAMMA Nuclear
Based at Sellafield: STAMMA Nuclear Stammering Network (stamma.org). Also Stammering: what it is and how an employee network is helping (gov.uk), October 2021.
STAMMA Arts
STAMMA Arts Network (stamma.org) “for anyone who stammers and either works in the arts, wants to pursue a career in the industry, or who enjoys practising it non-professionally”.
Institute of Acoustics (IOA) stammering support
For professionals involved in acoustics across the UK who stammer to come together in a mutually supportive environment. Started 2022. More: Institute of Acoustics Stammering Support Network (stamma.org).
Entrepreneurs who Stammer Network
Support network for entrepreneurs, or budding entrepreneurs, who stammer. More: Entrepreneurs who Stammer Network (stamma.org).
Staff disability networks
Apart from stammering networks, any network for disabled staff at your employer may provide useful support, and getting involved in it can be great for raising awareness of stammering. See “Showing up and speaking out means you can have far more influence” (scottishstammeringnetwork.org), 2020.
More links on Employment Stammering Networks
- Communities and groups>Workplace and professional networks (stamma.org)
- STUC (Stammerers Through University Consultancy) at www.stuc-uk.org supports students and staff in higher education who stammer.
