The Talking out Team
Ben Bolton-Grant
Ben trained as a Speech and Language Therapist in Leeds and qualified in 2007. Since this time he has worked in the NHS, local education authorities, with charities and in the private sector with children and young people with a range of speech, language and communication needs.
He developed an interest in working with people who stammer whilst working for Harrogate District Foundation Trust during which time he developed the stammering service for the area. More recently he has worked as a clinical lead for Stammering for Leeds Community Healthcare Trust and at the Stammering Support Centre, which was a national centre for stammering. He is a registered European Fluency Specialist.
Ben currently works at Leeds Beckett University where he is the Course Director for the MSc Speech and Language Therapy course, teaching on a range of modules that cover speech and language needs, professional practice and stammering. He is also a PhD student at the university and is currently completing a research project about the Talking Out Residential.
Ben started working on the Talking Out Residential whilst he worked at the Stammering Support Centre. Since then, he has worked with Teresa to develop the residential and set up Talking Out Ltd. He continues to be a director for Talking Out alongside working at the university and is excited to keep running groups and meeting new families.
Teresa Howarth
Teresa qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist in 1985, graduating from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne University.
She began working as a Speech and Language Therapist for the NHS and worked for over 30 years on the Wirral, Pendle and Blackburn, and latterly Calderdale and Huddersfield.
She developed a Specialist Stammering Service, led teams of specialist therapists, and set up an ongoing programme of group work which included delivering stammer friendly school training.
Teresa has been involved in several of the former British Stammering Association projects (now Stamma). She has delivered training to other Speech and Language Therapists across the country.
Teresa also worked for national government initiatives as part of a Children’s Fund project which involved working closely with schools and recruiting and training volunteers to promote self esteem for vulnerable children.
Teresa has been involved with the Residential initiative since 2003 and together with Ben set up Talking Out Limited to continue to develop a specialist intervention for teenagers who stammer.
She has also undertaken substantive counselling training; taught counselling skills and led specific group work.
Teresa enjoys outdoor pursuits such as running walking swimming and cycling. She also enjoys reading and studying philosophy and science.
Our PARTNERS
North Yorkshire Outdoor Learning Services
North Yorkshire Outdoor Learning Services
North Yorkshire Outdoor Learning Services
The North Yorkshire Outdoor Learning Service is owned by North Yorkshire County Council and is part of North Yorkshire Education and Skills. They provide the centre we use for the Talking Out Residential. They provide the outdoor activities, instructors, accommodation and food. We love working with them!
ATE
North Yorkshire Outdoor Learning Services
North Yorkshire Outdoor Learning Services
ATE are a charity who provide residential and holiday experiences for children and young people. They are experts in play, creating fun and empowering spaces for children and grown-ups alike. They provide pastoral care during the Talking Out Residential.
Leeds Beckett University
North Yorkshire Outdoor Learning Services
Leeds Beckett University
We work with Speech and Language Therapy students from Leeds Beckett University. Students join our groups as part of a clinical placement to observe, support and lead different parts of our work. They are supervised by the Talking Out team and supported by the university tutors.