Introducing SuperPenguin:
A new era of speech support
Learning from our previous developments, we launched SuperPenguin, our rebranded platform designed to empower NHS Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) to help more families. Our goal is to build confidence in children, lower anxiety and worry for families, and improve efficiency in NHS services by reducing waiting times for SLT services.
The previous version of SuperPenguin is an app called Penguin, which has proven to be an invaluable asset to NHS services as the only app available for stammering support. We have seen incredible growth in adoption, achieving integration in 15 NHS trusts within a year. Leveraging this momentum, we secured a £1.5 million grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to bring SuperPenguin nationwide into the NHS.
Project highlights include
- Co-creation: The project will be a joint effort between researchers from SuperPenguin, Leeds Beckett University’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and three NHS organisations in South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Berkshire. This collaboration is further supported by Derby Clinical Trials Support Unit (CTSU), Health Innovation East Midlands (HIEM), the Centre for Healthcare Equipment and Technology Adoption (CHEATA), and Action for Stammering Children.
- Comprehensive pathway support: The current version of SuperPenguin focuses on supporting families while on waiting lists. The new version, developed during the project, will support families before, during, and after therapy through the addition of a new dashboard, making it more personalised and engaging.
- Support for all: The intellectual property developed during the project will not only benefit stammering care but will also support all speech and language needs on a single platform, offering a comprehensive solution for families and clinician
Voices from the team
Dr Trish Holch, Reader in Applied Health Psychology at Leeds Beckett University, and co-lead of the project, shares her personal connection and enthusiasm:
"As someone who stammered as a child, I am thrilled to be part of this study. Our aim is to encourage children to feel confident and embrace their unique way of speaking."
Dr Ronan Miller, Director of Real-World Evidence at SuperPenguin, emphasises the transformative potential of the app:
"SuperPenguin will move away from a 'fix it' mindset and towards embracing children for who they are. It’s about making them confident communicators."
Real impact on families
Heather Brigden-McLean, a parent involved in the initial testing of Penguin, shares her positive experience:
"SuperPenguin is a game-changer. It provides early access to information and strategies that can normalise stammering and connect families to the help they need much sooner."
We are delighted to announce that Heather will also be part of our Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) team. The PPI team is dedicated to ensuring that the perspectives and experiences of patients and the public are incorporated into the development and evaluation of our solutions, making sure they meet the real needs of users.
Nicola Maddy, an SLT at South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, looks forward to integrating SuperPenguin into therapy:
"This innovative approach aligns with our stammering affirming therapy and will enhance the delivery of care."
Join us on this journey
We are excited about the potential of SuperPenguin to make a significant impact on the lives of children who stammer and their families, while also improving efficiency in NHS services.