TALK Walton on Thames Group

TALK helps people with dysphasia/aphasia to practise their communication and reasoning skills in a supportive environment and to improve the quality of their lives by rebuilding their confidence.

We have one volunteer for each recoverer so there is plenty of help available. We now have 21 recoverers and 22 volunteers. Our volunteers also attend regular training sessions.

Each session has a different theme which the recoverers will find interesting and is led by different volunteers. The sessions may involve a talk, slides, questions, worksheets or practical activities and are designed to encourage communication, conversation and literacy skills in an adult yet relaxed, supportive and cheerful environment.

Our recent themes have included vehicles, Surrey, Queen Victoria, laughter, food, sport, gardens, holidays in Columbia, Nepal, Thailand and Cambodia, a visit from an artist, a computer session and music and games.

After a break for a drink and biscuit, the theme is continued, concentrating on communication and conversation. A variety of pictures, objects and prompts are used.

This year TALK is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Many of the group went to a New Year meal in Guildford, a service in Guildford Cathedral and attended a celebration meal in Normandy, Surrey.

The Walton group is one of three TALK groups that have been working in partnership with Connect - the national communication disability network based in London. We are trialling several conversational ideas and reporting back to Connect about their usefulness.

We hope to improve the conversational opportunities of our groups and to help Connect’s research. The aim is to develop a resource for organisations across the UK, which will provide conversation opportunities for people with aphasia.

If you are a recoverer, or know of a stroke recoverer who would like to attend the sessions, please contact the TALK co-ordinator: