Collaboration

We aim to be an integral part of both the local aphasia community and the wider professional community. To this end we collaborate with several groups including local speech and language therapists, charities including the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia and NETA and of course people with aphasia themselves.

With people with aphasia

We aim to put people with aphasia at the heart of the Centre. Our involvement extends to all of our therapy and research work, where groups of people with aphasia are consulted on changes, developments and projects. We have set up a research user group (RUG) and are consulting on a planned project. The group will form part of the project management. We also involve people with aphasia directly in our teaching about aphasia. In celebration of and to develop our engagement with people with aphasia, we have recently received funding to develop a social meeting place (the Aphasia Café) for people with aphasia. This complements our existing work. This is used by both the Aphasia Centre and by NETA, a charity whose trustees are predominantly people with aphasia and their families.

With speech and language therapists in the NHS

We work closely with speech and language therapists in the local area to ensure the Aphasia Centre works within the care pathways for people with aphasia in the region. A yearly consultation group with managers takes place to facilitate this. We receive a high number of highly appropriate referrals each year and are well supported by the local services. Many therapists have taken the opportunity to visit us either on observational or working placement as part of their continuing professional development.

The opportunity for university clinicians and NHS therapists to work together in this way provides an exchange of ideas and work practices to ensure the best possible services for people with aphasia.

If you are interested in visiting the Centre, please contact us.

With the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia

We have been strongly supported by the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia. They provided initial set up and running costs for the Aphasia Centre and have continue to be involved and interested in the Aphasia Centre.

They have also funded the development of the Newcastle University Aphasia Therapy Resources.

With NETA: The North East Trust for Aphasia

We work closely with NETA, a dynamic local charity set up by people with aphasia for people with aphasia. NETA offers longer term support for people with aphasia and their families. Two of our speech and language therapists are trustees of the organisation and we maintain a close working relationship.

The NETA Aphasia Support Centre, managed by Rose Hilton, is run within the same premises as the Aphasia Centre, and offers longer term support where activities are led by the users.  The NETA Aphasia Support Centre is now firmly embedded within the local SLT services who are key stakeholders and who will play a large part, along with its members, in shaping its future.