Breaking Barriers in Bristol: A Transformative McGuire Programme Course

Earlier this year, the McGuire Programme UK held an unforgettable 5-day course in Bristol, bringing together new students, graduates, and coaches in an environment designed to push limits, challenge fears, and build lasting confidence in speech.

With some bold new approaches, this course was more than just training—it was a transformational experience.

What Made This Course Different?

🏆 Less Splitting, More Connection – We minimized separate sessions so new students (NS) could fully experience the McGuire journey and graduates (grads) could see more of the Course Instructors (CIs) in action.

⏳ A Longer Course for Greater Impact – We brought back Sunday morning for the first time in years, focusing on the crucial “going home” phase—ensuring students left ready to integrate their new skills into daily life.

Course Highlights

📍 Wednesday: Setting the Tone
The course kicked off with an exclusive 4-hour graduate refresher, covering the fundamentals of speech, personal purpose, and tackling fear head-on. Over 20 grads attended, reinforcing the power of continuous improvement.

📍 Thursday: Strength in Numbers
Split sessions were kept to a minimum—giving new students a stronger sense of support and community. Coaches and grads surrounded them, showing that no one faces this journey alone.

📍 Friday: The Big Phone Call Challenge
Making phone calls can be one of the biggest fears for people who stutter. The Friday evening phone call session was carefully planned, with an abundance of coaches guiding and encouraging each NS to push through this milestone.

📍 Saturday: Facing the Founder
After an intense day of training and public speaking, NS had the opportunity to speak with McGuire Programme founder, Dave McGuire. The evening wrapped up with pizza, celebrations, and farewell speeches—a true bonding experience.

📍 Sunday: The Game-Changer
For the first time in years, Sunday was back on the schedule. It focused on one of the most important aspects of this journey: how to maintain progress after the course. The session was well attended by both NS and 20+ grads, proving its value in reinforcing long-term change.

Why Does This Matter?

For many, stuttering isn’t just about speech—it’s about mindset, confidence, and taking back control. This course wasn’t just about learning techniques; it was about breaking barriers, smashing self-doubt, and proving that change is possible.

The feedback? Overwhelmingly positive. Graduates—both new and experienced—embraced the reshuffled structure and felt the deep impact of the new sessions.