Waitrose Community Donation to Talking Matters

‘Talking Matters’ a group run by South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT) Community Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service have been presented with a cheque from the Waitrose Southend ‘Community Matters’ fund.

Waitrose Southend selected the ‘Talking Matters’ group as one of three local causes for customers to support during the month of August. Customers shopping in store were able to support the ‘Talking Matters’ groups by pledging their Waitrose green shopping tokens.

The ‘Talking Matters’ groups help people with long term communication difficulties following a stroke. The group is run by SEPT’s Community Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service with support from a team of trained community volunteers; together they run three local groups in Southend, Rayleigh and Canvey.

A cheque of £163 was presented by Sally Holman, Community Matters Co-ordinator at Waitrose Southend to the group in Southend on Monday 23 November.

Anna Smith, Principal Speech and Language Therapist for SEPT said “These groups aim to help its members gain confidence in communicating in social situations, and practise the communication strategies taught in individual therapy.

“We are very grateful to Waitrose, and all the customers who chose to support Talking Matters with their green shopping tokens.

“The money raised will be used to fund equipment, used by the speech and language group and subsidise social events organised by the group throughout the year.”