A CASH boost of more than £6,000 has been awarded to The Warrington Stammering Support Group which was set up by a Paddington mum-of-two following a long struggle with her speech.

Yinka Dolan, of Terence Avenue, welcomed the news of the National Lottery funding of £6,620 which helps others to combat their speech disorders.

The 50-year-old said: "When I received the letter to confirm we had been approved for the grant I was quite emotional – which isn’t me."

The grant will be used to send 12 members to the British Stammering Association three day conference in Manchester in September and 12 members to attend a Star Fish refresher training course to help people with the coastal breathing technique.

Ten people with speech disorders will now be able to attend a mindfulness-based workshop in Warrington as well as treating the group to a meal out.

Yinka, who put the funding application together with the help of Paula Cooper from Warrington Voluntary Services added: "Just seeing each member improve in confidence, learn new techniques and reconfirm old techniques makes the hard work of putting the application together worthwhile."

Yinka was let go from her previous office job because of her stammer after the pressure of trying to hide the disorder left her unable to speak.

But now the 49-year-old spends endless hours on the phone talking to colleagues and members of the public as an operational support officer within the Public Protecting department of Warrington Borough Council.

She set up the support so that she can help others who have faced similar hurdles.

For more information about the support group visit warringtonstammeringsupportgroup.org.uk or visit mindfulnesmatters1.com.