Brain-injured photographer battles chronic pain – by taking its pictureNew Harrogate ‘café’ to support communication after stroke and brain injury

A charity supporting people living with communication issues after stroke is appealing for volunteers to help run a new service in Harrogate.

Aphasia Support is setting up a twice-monthly ‘café’ at Knaresborough Road Health Centre from September.

It will offer activities including quizzes, games, and arts and crafts, while providing people with aphasia the chance to meet up and build their confidence in communicating.

While a qualified speech and language therapist will be on hand to run the café, volunteers will also be needed at the sessions, including serving drinks and cakes to visitors.

James Major, CEO of Aphasia Support, said:

“We’re delighted to be launching our sixth Aphasia Café in Yorkshire. We’ve already got sessions running twice a month in Leeds, Halifax, Wakefield, Barnsley, and Doncaster, and have since recognised a real need for similar community support in Harrogate following an increase in referrals.

“Our events are a great opportunity for those living with aphasia and their carers to meet others dealing with the same challenges, with the support of an experienced speech and language therapist. Although, as a charity, we rely on the generosity of volunteers to help run the cafes.

“So, we’re on the lookout for new faces in Harrogate to join our team. If you’re looking for a volunteer role, or if you have an interest in speech and language, we’d love to hear from you. You don’t need any speech and language experience and we provide full training.”

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Aphasia is a complex language disorder experienced by people who have had a stroke or other type of brain injury.

It affects the ability to speak, read, write and understand language.

A third of stroke survivors in the UK live with the condition, and a total of 350,000 people have aphasia, but Aphasia Support said almost 85% of the public have never heard of it.

The charity helps people with aphasia to work on key communication goals with support from speech and language therapists.

It matches patients with trained volunteers, working together on a one-to-one basis using conversation techniques and computer therapy programmes.

The first Harrogate aphasia café takes place on Thursday, September 14, from 10,30am to noon. It will run every second and fourth Thursday of the month from then on.

Pat Malin, who has volunteered at Aphasia Support’s café in Barnsley since 2021, said the experience has also been beneficial to her:

“I love seeing people grow in confidence the more they attend the café.

“I’ve made so many great friends since I started volunteering for Aphasia Support. We’re like a little family.”

Anyone interested in volunteering at the Harrogate group only needs to be available for a few hours each month. To find out more, visit Aphasia Support’s website.