South-east speech therapy gets £500k boost

A London centre aiming to support children who stammer has been given a £500,000 cash injection from the government.

Schools secretary Ed Balls offered the money to help the Michael Palin Centre expand its services in the capital and across the south of England.

The minister also launched an appeal to raise further funds for a new centre of excellence in the north of the country.

Announcing the investment, Mr Balls said: "If children with a stammer get the best possible help as early as possible, they can very often overcome any difficulties and make the most of their talents and do just as well as their peers."

First opened in 1993, the centre has since provided practical help and advice to more than 3,000 children.

The Monty Python star agreed to lend his name to the project after playing a character with a stammer in the 1988 film A Fish Called Wanda, a role Palin based on his father who had a speech impediment throughout his life.

Written by Theo Foulds





Published On 21/10/2009