Dyscover is a specialist charity providing community and online support for people with aphasia and progressive aphasias led by Speech and Language Therapists.
Aphasia is a neurological condition, acquired through stroke, brain injury or rare form of dementia and is very isolating and frustrating. Aphasia affects a person's communication, including their ability to find words, construct sentences and to understand language, both written and spoken.
We work to inform, support and empower people with aphasia to manage their communication disability and to re-engage with life. We create an aphasia friendly community in which people feel included, valued and have a sense of purpose.
Dyscover was founded in 1994 by Gill Jackson MBE, a visionary speech and language therapist with many years of NHS experience.
Gill had a vision of a community organisation offering long-term support through providing a range of activities in response to the needs and suggestions of people with aphasia and their families. Dyscover has grown and developed and now operates vital services for people with aphasia across the UK – online and in person (in Surrey and South London). We offer structured, therapeutic groups and courses for over 100 adults with aphasia each week. Dyscover is unique because all of our sessions, programmes and courses are led or overseen by professional speech and language therapists. Our therapists are supported by a team of trained and dedicated volunteers - both in person and online. We rely on our wonderful team of volunteers and couldn't provide our crucial services without them.
Aphasia is isolating, frustrating and is usually acquired without warning. It ranges from mild to severe and can be a long-term condition, which impacts whole families.
Our members describe our crucial services as a 'life line'.
"It was like turning a light on. Coming to Dyscover has helped me to improve my communication skills, regain confidence and a zest for life"
"It's getting better all the time...Dyscover has helped me to cope with my frustration and find space and time to communicate my needs"
- Confident communicators
- Friendly and personable
- Happy to share their skills and interests
- Compassionate and empathetic
For online roles - confidence on video calls and talking to groups of people online. Experience of using zoom eg: Screen sharing, break out rooms etc
An interest in communication, speech and language therapy/languages/linguistics would be great or anyone wanting to go into a medical or caring profession
- We are led by a team of professional Speech and Language Therapists
- Full training and induction provided
- Volunteers gain new skills, knowledge and experience
- We are a positive and friendly team
- Volunteers see people really benefit as they regain skills and confidence
- Excellent initial and ongoing training provided
- Ongoing support from a team leader and volunteer coordinator
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