Speakeasier, a totally independent charity, is the vision of Steve Brisk, who has lived with MS since 1980. He discovered that if someone with MS was unable to walk, the NHS had a duty to supply them with a wheelchair, but if they couldn't talk, there was no obligation to supply them with a speech aid. So he founded Speakeasier, to meet that need. Having come from a business background himself, Steve was keen to enlist the support of businesses. Huw Evans, a local Cheltenham based business leader, was Speakeasier's first donor and founding chairman, helping to establish Speakeasier as an effective and successful charitable organisation.

Speakeasier receives referrals from Speech & Language Therapists throughout the UK. Then, on receipt of an application form completed by a registered Speech & Language Therapist, Speakeasier will endeavour to fund the purchase of an aid which will then be given to a client on permanent loan. Speakeasier is also committed to researching cost effective solutions to communication problems.

Because Speakeasier is committed to reducing the barriers to the use of Speech aids, we do not means test clients. Some donors do request some financial information about our clients, but this information will never lead to a refusal to fund an aid.

Please Let Us Know what you think - we aim to provide you with as much helpful and up-to-date information as possible and your comments will help us to do that.

About Us

Speakeasier Organisation and Personnel Profiles

The Cheltenham based Speakeasier charity operates as a Limited Company, run and organised entirely by a dedicated team of unpaid volunteers. Each has particular professional expertise helping Speakeasier to work effectively in fundraising, and ensuring rapid provision of appropriate speech aids to individuals whose speech has become impaired as a result of Multiple Sclerosis. In the following listing of personnel profiles (C) denotes those who serve on Speakeasier's management committee.

Steve Brisk - Founder & Deputy Chairman (C)

Steve, formerly a Sales Manager with Clarks Shoes, has lived with MS since 1980 and has since qualified as a counsellor. It was when he was counselling a young mother with MS, who subsequently lost her speech, that he decided to help by raising funds for a speech aid for her. Aware of the lack of NHS funding for speech aids Steve founded Speakeasier.

Andrew Chapman - Company Secretary and Legal Advisor (C)

Andrew, a practicing solicitor, provides Speakeasier with essential legal advice needed by a registered charity.

Dragana Hartley - Strategic Consultant : Marketing (C)

Dragana comes from an advertising background. She gives invaluable help in forming policy, and with advertising, marketing and public relations matters.

Ruth Lewis - Client Liaison Coordinator

Having previously established the post of Client Liaison Officer and developed many of Speakeasier's systems, Ruth now supervises a well-trained team of Client Liaison Officers to stay in touch with our clients and to keep track of the speech aids. She also assists Steve Brisk with a variety of special tasks. Ruth has had MS herself since 1981.

Nigel West - Treasurer (C)

Until recent retirement, Nigel was a consultant for HM Customs. He provides a very thorough and reliable Treasurer's service, producing Speakeasier's financial accounts.

Patrons

Lorraine Kelly - GMTV Presenter

Well known to viewers of breakfast-time TV, when she heard of Speakeasier, Lorraine kindly agreed to support our worthy cause.

Derek Wilkinson, MBE (C)

Derek, also a Speakeasier Management Committee member, is a paraplegic/wheelchair user having a natural empathy with disabled people. With a career spent as an aerospace design engineer, Derek was awarded the MBE for Services to Aircraft Engineering.

New dissertation

Beth Freeman, a Speech and Language Therapist, has written a dissertation, see 'Abstract' below, which is available online for you to view.

Abstract:

This research investigated factors that influence the decision-making processes of Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) in introducing Augmentative and Alternative Communication to clients with Multiple Sclerosis. A Literature Review discussed a selection of recent research in this area, and detailed a clear rationale for this study. Questionnaires were sent to 200 SLTs in the United Kingdom, and data from the returned 84 questionnaires was analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Analysis revealed that influential factors included those specific to the disease, to the client and their environment, and resources available to the SLT. Clinical implications following analysis of the data are suggested and ideas for future research proposed.

Recommended reading

Judy Graham's new edition [HarperCollins; ISBN: 0722527772] has been rewritten to explain what multiple sclerosis (MS) is and recommends the best self-help therapies available for its management. Based on the most current research data, this book provides advice on diet, food supplements, exercise, yoga and hyperbaric oxygen treatment. In addition, it addresses the mental and emotional factors of MS with clarity and sensitivity, covering topics such as fatigue, relationships, sexuality, pregnancy and childbirth. Included is the latest information on the therapeutic effects of evening primrose oil and the links between MS and mercury in fillings, food allergies and saturated fats.

Recommended Links

Jooly's Joint is an online community of people who live with Multiple Sclerosis. If you, a family member or a friend has MS you will find friendship here. "This is a terrific site. A real feeling of community, shared experience and unobtrusive support. An excellent site for anyone with MS." Internet Magazine.

The MS Trust

The MS Trust provides information for anyone affected by multiple sclerosis, education programmes for health professionals working with people with MS, funding for practical research and campaigns for specialist multiple sclerosis services.

The MS Society (UK)

The Mission of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is to end the devastating effects of MS, they support a wide range of programmes including support for the newly diagnosed.