Our Preston Aphasia Café: Six Months On
In January 2026, Aphasia Support launched a dedicated Aphasia Café in Preston - a collaborative partnership with Heartbeat North West Cardiac Care.
Held twice a month inside the Gentry Bar at Deepdale Stadium, the free group offers a welcoming and supportive environment where local people can meet others who truly understand what it's like to live with, or care for someone with, aphasia.
The sessions are led by Speech and Language Therapist, Alison McGrath, and supported by our wonderful team of fully trained volunteers. Together, they create a friendly and inclusive space where everyone is encouraged and supported to communicate in their own way.
Six months on, we caught up with Alison and members of our Preston Aphasia Café to hear what matters most to them.
Challenging misconceptions
During the group, we spoke about the importance of raising awareness, particularly to challenge some of the most common myths and misunderstandings surrounding aphasia.
"Aphasia is often misunderstood, and people living with the condition can face stigma or assumptions about their abilities – including being mistaken for being confused or intoxicated," explains Alison McGrath.
"In reality, aphasia affects how a person communicates, not their intelligence. People with aphasia have a lifetime of experiences, opinions and stories to share, but can struggle to express themselves. At the Preston Aphasia Café, we see just how much confidence grows when people are given the time, support and understanding they need to communicate in their own way and fully be themselves."
These conversations highlighted just how important awareness and understanding can be. Patience and the willingness to adapt how we communicate can make a significant difference to someone's confidence and ability to participate in everyday life.
Finding New Ways to Communicate
To help develop these meaningful conversations, members took part in a creative activity - using drawing, writing and other communication methods to share their thoughts about aphasia and the techniques that help them stay connected.
Together, they came up with a wide range of strategies, including giving extra time, reducing distractions, using gestures, writing key words and incorporating visual prompts.
The activity reinforced an important message: no two people experience aphasia in the same way. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to communication. Instead, it's important to understand individual needs, trial different strategies and use what works best for you.
Building Confidence and Community
Our Preston Aphasia Cafe sees people of all ages and abilities come together to form new friendships, practice their communication skills and support one another. Although it's only been running for a few months, it's encouraging to see members express themselves more freely, grow in confidence and celebrate each other's achievements.
Whether you're living with aphasia yourself or supporting someone who is, our Preston Aphasia Café offers a friendly place to connect with others and access specialist support. The group meets twice a month at Deepdale Stadium and is free to attend. Click here to find out more, or find an Aphasia Cafe near you.
