Dean Ridge, STAMMA Trustee

Dean is a lifelong stammerer and a STAMMA Trustee. He has been referred to recently as the Emperor of entertainment! Outside of organising STAMMAFest, Dean enjoys walking and eating cake.

‍Giada Origlia, Communications & Content Lead at STAMMA

Before joining STAMMA in June 2025, Giada worked in PR and digital marketing before transitioning to the charity sector in 2022. When she’s not spotting the latest social trends, Giada spends most of her time in the gym, the swimming pool, or making music.

‍Jane Powell, STAMMA CEO

Jane started as CEO at STAMMA in 2018. Prior to this she founded CALM, the Campaign Against Living Miserably, a charity aimed at preventing male suicide. She set up the charity in 2005 and finally left in 2017. In her spare time she likes gardening. ‍

Jenny Packer, Speech & Language Therapist

Jenny is a Speech & Language Therapist working with children and adults who stammer. In her spare time, Jenny enjoys knitting and running (but not at the same time!).

‍Kirsten Howells, STAMMA Director of Services, Deputy CEO

Kirsten started as a STAMMA helpline volunteer and is now a staff member, coordinating several of STAMMA's support services. When she's not involved in all things STAMMA Kirsten loves reading, listening to podcasts, walking and dreaming about visiting Antarctica. ‍

Marylyn Molisso, Volunteering Lead at STAMMA

Marylyn’s sister, twin brother and dad have had stammers or functional neurological disorders in their lifetimes, so STAMMA's cause is very close to her heart.
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When she’s not leading the volunteering programme at STAMMA, Marylyn dedicates her time to her other big passions: sculpture and all things (vegetarian) food.

‍Paul Roberts, Compere Extraordinaire

Paul is a proud stammerer who loves walking and talking with the STAMMA Striders walking group. He found his calling at STAMMAFest Global as quizmaster (and chief food taster!). Having discovered his voice at one of our conferences many years ago, Paul hopes others will enjoy the freedom that comes from joining with different voices. ‍‍

‍Rory Sheridan, Arts Producer

Rory is a London-based socially engaged arts producer who is deeply passionate about social justice and equality. His professional work engages with the relationship between artistic practice and representing neurodiverse communities. Since 2015, Rory has been a dedicated advocate for people who stammer, initially volunteering for the British Stammering Association and STAMMA.
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Rory uses the visual arts as a platform to stimulate dialogue and exchange, focusing on process, conversation and challenging audiences to reconsider the way neurodiverse individuals and groups are represented. He currently works for the learning disability charity, Mencap.

We have been holding a conference every other year for many years. And they are legendary.  

They started as the British Stammering Association conferences, and much like Glastonbury, people remember our Glasgow, Cardiff, Manchester events, and will track their journey with stammering, and friendships, back to their first ones.

The 2020 conference, planned for Sheffield, was postponed because of Covid. Named 'STAMMAFest' to fit with the rebrand to STAMMA, the organising committee wanted the event to celebrate all things stammering.

When the International Stuttering Association invited bids for their 2022 conference, it was too good an opportunity to miss. STAMMAFest became STAMMAFest Global, and we combined both conferences together at Liverpool in 2022.

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No, the welcome event on Thursday evening does not include a meal. You are advised to have something to eat before attending. There are a few restaurants, fast food outlets and supermarkets within a short distance of the university.

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There will be a meal on Friday and Saturday evenings.

You will need to bring photo ID in order to check in to the university accommodation. Any photo ID will do, including passport, driving license, transport pass, etc.

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If this is your first time at STAMMAFest, our 'First Timers & Lone Rangers' workshop on the Friday morning is for you.

This will be a fun, relaxed, interactive session where you can join in as much or as little as you like. Bob Adams, who has attended every STAMMA/BSA conference since they began, will be on hand to answer all your questions and allay any fears.

You can check into your university accommodation from 2pm on the day of arrival. You'll need to vacate by 11:30am on the day of departure.

Yes. On weekdays, parking costs £3.50 per day per vehicle, while on Saturday & Sunday, it’s £1.50 per day per vehicle.

If you find you are unable to attend STAMMAFest after registering, another person may attend in your place. Please inform us of the change of name before the event. Email jacqueline.fitzsimmons@stamma.org

‍If you find it necessary to cancel the registration completely, please notify us immediately. Provided written notice is received by 29th June 2026, a full refund will be given, less a £10 administration fee.

Cancellations after 29th June will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, but refunds are unlikely. Any refunds agreed will not be received until after the conference. For no-shows at the conference without written notification, the full fee (100% cancellation charge) will be payable.

In the event that STAMMA has to completely cancel the conference, all registration fees will be reimbursed. STAMMA shall not be liable for reimbursing the cost of travel.

The STAMMAFest team are committed to keeping costs as low as we can for everyone, while still providing a high-quality conference. We have a fixed number of concession tickets for students, young people and those on a low income. If you follow our website menu for ticket information, you will find details of concession tickets there.

Read our Privacy Policy.

The STAMMAFest team are committed to keeping costs as low as we can for everyone, while still providing a high-quality conference.

There is a discount for STAMMA members - if you are a member, you will receive an email from us with details.

We also have a fixed number of concession tickets for students, young people and those on low incomes. Please see the Tickets & Pricing page for details.

Children and young people below the age of 16 are welcome at the Family Day event on Saturday 22nd August. 16-17 year-olds are welcome to attend the main conference rather than the Family Day, but will need to be accompanied by an adult who has also bought a ticket.

The main STAMMAFest conference is aimed at adults and all are welcome! Whether you stammer, your child or your mate stammers, whether you employ or work with someone who stammers, or if you're a speech & language therapist (SLT) or SLT student. Or whether you just want to ensure that your organisation is accessible to people who stammer. STAMMAFest has something for everyone. It is a glorious conference! 16-17 year-olds are welcome but will need to be accompanied by an adult who has bought a ticket.

There will be a Family Day event alongside the main conference on Saturday 22nd August, where children and those aged under 16 are welcome.

Keeping with the festival theme of the last STAMMAFest, we want a lively evening get-together where attendees can mingle freely across the course of the evening, chatting and dancing. There will also be a quieter space to talk if you prefer. The informal nature of our Saturday night event is also a more affordable option for attendees.

The ticket price for each day includes a hot buffet lunch and tea/coffee refreshments. The evening meal is also included with tickets that cover Friday and Saturday. If you book to stay in the university accommodation, this will include breakfast.

There will be a welcome event on Thursday night. On Friday evening there will be a quiz and a dinner. On Saturday, there will be a party with food and entertainment.

These events are included in the day-ticket prices and the full or long weekend ticket price - so please don't buy an extra ticket for them. However, you may wish to bring a guest, so we have made separate tickets available for each.

Any children attending social events must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are required for both children and adults. Some events may have reduced ticket prices for children and young people.

Come dressed in whatever makes you feel good! You might want to change for the evenings.

Absolutely! There’ll be plenty of opportunity to network during the evening social events, breaks between sessions, over the meal table, and within sessions. See the full programme of workshops to see what's on. But STAMMAFest is all about community.

No. Everyone is welcome! But if you are based in the UK, by all means become a member. It is free and we'll keep you up to date with our events, campaigns and services. Join at stamma.org/join

We have worked hard to make sure STAMMAFest strikes a balance between being affordable for all while delivering a high quality and impactful event for our stammering community.

It is hard to predict exactly where we will be until the end, or realistically after conference. Many people buy tickets at the last minute and there are always extra costs and expenses. We aim to ensure that the conference doesn't make a loss - we cannot afford that - and hit the right side of break-even.

We rely on the generosity of members and supporters to sustain the charity. In 2026, our services will cost £400,000. Any profits made from STAMMAFest, however marginal they may be, will be reinvested back into the charity. This means that you will be supporting the delivery of our services, campaigning and advocacy work.

No. However, breakfast IS included in your accommodation, provided you have booked it.

We anticipate that most conference attendees will be staying locally either in the university accommodation or in local accommodation sought themselves. Please ask about left luggage options at your accommodation.

The venue is fully accessible via lifts and ramps. There are a limited number of accessible bedrooms available in the university accommodation.

No, but when you book your ticket you will be able to add university accommodation separately, in either the student village or onsite hotel. This includes breakfast. You will find more details about accommodation on the Tickets & Pricing page.

You are welcome to arrange your own accommodation with local hotels or Airbnbs.

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Our Family Day is for young people who stammer aged 5-15 years old. We want to give children and young people the chance to meet others of similar ages who may be going through similar life experiences. We will split our groups by age/stage where possible such as into 5-7 years (KS1), 7-11 (KS2) and 11-15 (KS3 and KS4).

Those aged 16 and over will be able to access the main conference. Those aged 16-17 must be accompanied by an adult.

During STAMMAFest we will have a photographer and videographer recording the event.

If you or your child doesn't wish to be photographed or filmed, please pick up a lanyard from the Registration desk, so we can identify you.

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During the plenary sessions, there will be seating areas to sit that are labelled as no photography zones. Please sit in these sections if you don't want to be filmed or photographed.

You can sign up for the Family Day without attending the whole conference. You are also welcome to come to the Friday night quiz and STAMMAFest Social on the Saturday evening, or buy individual day tickets for any of the days.

While you do not need to be with your child/children while they are in activities, a parent or guardian MUST always be on site. We will have a range of activities available for parents too and you are welcome to sit in our social area at any point during the Saturday morning.

While the sessions are primarily designed to encourage children to have fun and talk to one another, they also aim to build confidence, develop their social skills and support them to have more positive thoughts and feelings about stammering. Sessions will be led and supported by a group of volunteers including Speech & Language Therapists and adults who stammer.

If you are a parent of a child who stammers and have paid for a ticket to the conference which includes the Saturday (e.g. a day pass or weekend ticket) then you can choose to join the parent sessions at the Family Day instead of attending sessions at the main conference.

All adult Family Day tickets must be connected to a child who is attending the event and cannot be bought separately.

Children and teenagers attending sessions without their parents at the Family Day will be supported by our volunteers. Safeguarding leads will be available to answer questions or give advice if you are concerned. For children/teenagers who need additional support, we may ask that their family attend specific sessions to ensure their safety.

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When you arrive at the event, families will be required to register and will be given wristbands to write the name of their child, a contact number and any relevant medical information. Adults and children will need to wear their wristbands throughout the day. If a volunteer needs to contact a parent or carer about their child (e.g. if they find a lost child), they will use the number given on the wristband.

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If you have any concerns about your child, or your child would benefit from additional support to access the Family Day, please contact us in advance so we can make any accommodations.

Yes! STAMMAFest includes social events at other times across the week. On Friday there is a pub-style quiz in the evening, while Saturday evening’s event contains live music, entertainment and a tasty meal, including a range of vegetarian and vegan options.

Anyone attending the Family Day is welcome to buy tickets for these events through this website. Any children attending social events must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are required for both children and adults. Some events may have a reduced ticket price for children and young people.

We will be welcoming people to the Family Day on Saturday 22nd of August from 10:30am, with the first session beginning at 11am. We will have two sessions in the morning, with a refreshment break in-between, before lunch.

After lunch, families can attend the main conference. Depending on the age and needs of your child, you are welcome to attend just for the morning or stay for the afternoon activities as well. Workshops and events which are family-friendly will be clearly signposted.

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We apply for grant funding towards our Family Day, so we can offer a limited number of tickets for families at a significantly reduced price. Both adults and children need tickets to attend.

The Family Day is our conference-within-a-conference for parents and carers of children who stammer - and for the children themselves. There are activities for the children where they'll get to meet and talk with other children who stammer. There'll also be sessions for parents, where they will get to meet other parents, ask questions and explore what it is like to have a child who stammers.

In the afternoon, families can join in the main conference and attend family-friendly workshops and activities.  

STAMMAFest 2026 will take place at Northampton University, at the Waterside Campus, a modern building which opened in 2018.

There is accommodation on-site, which you will need to book directly with the university. The venue is easily accessible by public transport.

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The STAMMAFest team are committed to keeping costs as low as we can for everyone, while still providing a high-quality conference. We are offering Early Bird Tickets for the whole conference and for the Weekend Tickets, and have a fixed number of concession tickets for students, young people and those on low incomes, available up to a certain date. Follow the website menu for ticket information and details of all concession tickets.

The event is being held at Northampton University, at the Waterside Campus. Here is some more information on how to get there.

By air

The nearest international airports are: London Luton (40 miles), Birmingham (45 miles) and East Midlands (54 miles).

Birmingham Airport is a regular stop on the London Northwestern Railway line, which runs from Northampton. London Luton and East Midlands airports are accessible through a combination of rail and bus. To plan your journey, see Traveline.

By train

Northampton train station is only one mile away – a 15-minute walk or 10-minute cycle ride, so within walking distance for many. Or there are taxi and public transport options to reach the campus from the station.

Northampton station has excellent links to large local cities such as Birmingham, Milton Keynes and London, and is just an hour’s ride from Euston or Birmingham New Street, giving easy access to transfers to most major cities.

By car

Northampton is just off the M1 (junctions 15, 15a and 16), which offers easy access to both the North (Leeds) and South (London); through M1 links to M6 (at junction 19) for access to the West (Birmingham). Other major roads linking Northampton to nearby towns and villages to the east and west include the A45, A43 and A14.

Parking

Onsite parking is available. Weekdays £3.50 per day per vehicle, Saturday & Sunday £1.50 per day per vehicle.

By coach

National Express or FlixBus have stops in Northampton. Depending on the time of day, coaches may arrive at Northgate Bus Station or the stop at Saxon Avenue, Grange Park Bus Station. Use the coach company's website or app to plan your journey and book tickets.

By bus

The University’s Stagecoach bus services links Waterside campus with the Northampton train and bus stations, the park and ride, Scholars Green Student Village, and various destinations throughout the town.

Stagecoach and other bus operators offer services for a variety of routes in and around Northampton and to towns including Corby, Daventry, Rushden, Kettering and Wellingborough from Northampton bus station. In addition, coach operators such as National Express cover routes to towns and cities across the United Kingdom from the bus station or Victoria Street coach park.

Yes, there will be a variety of interactive sessions at STAMMAFest, including workshops, panel discussions and networking opportunities.

We're still working on the full event programme, but we will reveal it as soon as possible in the coming weeks.

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There are many ways to get involved in STAMMAFest 2026. You can:

• Attend the conference as a participant
• Volunteer your time to help with or at the event. Email stammafest@stamma.org for further details
• Spread the word about the conference on social media and other channels.

We want STAMMAFest to be more than just a conference. This is a short summary of what we’re hoping to achieve with it:

• Provide a supportive and inclusive environment for people who stammer to connect, learn and thrive.
• Promote understanding and awareness of stammering.
• Celebrate the diversity and strength of the stammering community.
• Empower people who stammer to live fulfilling lives.

The theme of STAMMAFest 2026 is 'Building Tomorrow'.

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Absolutely! STAMMAFest is a great opportunity to meet and connect with other people who stammer from all over the world. There will be plenty of opportunities for informal networking and socialising throughout the conference.

In addition to the inspiring keynote speakers, workshops and panel discussions, STAMMAFest 2026 will also feature a variety of social events including a Thursday night welcome, a Friday night quiz, and a Saturday night dinner and live band.

Yes, all attendees must register in advance to secure their place at the conference. See the Tickets & Pricing page to book tickets.

STAMMAFest is open to everyone including people who stammer, their families, friends, supporters, employers and other professionals who work with people who stammer.

You can book your accommodation alongside your tickets on this website to stay in the university accommodation. You are welcome to book alternative accommodation or stay with friends or relatives. See the Tickets & Pricing page for details.

You can book university accommodation alongside your ticket, either in the student village or onsite hotel. The price includes breakfast. See the Tickets & Pricing page for all the details.

If you don't wish to stay in the university accommodation, you are free to find your own accommodation.