Craig is currently the Chief of External Affairs at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). He tells us about his experience in politics and how he has become more confident about telling people about his stammer. He also thinks it’s really important to reach out for support for your stammer and that people are more understanding than you think.
Stambassadors
It’s not difficult to find successful people in all walks of life who stammer from Marilyn Monroe, to King George VI, Ex-Vice President Joe Biden, Ed Sheeran, the Actor Emily Blunt and former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls. As a Charity we meet people from all backgrounds who stammer from Chief Executives to apprentices every day. In fact, people who stammer can be found just about everywhere!
Stambassadors connects people from the world of work who stammer with young people who stammer, sharing their stories and inspiring young people to think big when they are considering their career choices. Take a look at the videos below to hear from people talking about their jobs, their career and their stammer!
Stambassador videos
-
Featured videoMark Benton – Technical Programme Lead-Thames Valley Police & Hampshire Constabulary Mark Benton – Technical Programme Lead-Thames Valley Police & Hampshire Constabulary
-
Featured videoJordan Kevan – Head Analyst at Liverpool Women’s FC Jordan Kevan – Head Analyst at Liverpool Women’s FC
Jordan joined us to talk about life as a person who stammer, how he started his career at Liverpool FC Women’s and advice for young people who stammer.
-
Featured videoFelicity Baker – Journalist at The BBC Felicity Baker – Journalist at The BBC
Felicity Baker joins Action for Stammering Children to talk about her work at the BBC, being a woman who stammers and how she got started in her career. You can watch her documentary ‘I Can’t Say My Name – Stammering in The Spotlight’ on BBC iPlayer.
-
Featured videoDominic Sutton – Healthcare Assistant at NHS Northern Ireland Dominic Sutton – Healthcare Assistant at NHS Northern Ireland
Dominic joins us to talk about his stammering journey and his role in the NHS Northern Ireland as a Healthcare Assistant.
-
Featured videoCraig Beaumont – Chief of External Affairs at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Craig Beaumont – Chief of External Affairs at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
-
Featured videoPete Bradley – Firefighter in the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Pete Bradley – Firefighter in the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service
Pete Bradley, is a firefighter in the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. One thing he loves about his job is helping people and speaking in schools, which he didn’t think he would enjoy as much!
Pete is also setting up a support group for young people in Northern Ireland, so if you would like to get involved and speak up for other people who stammer or just connect with them, then email [email protected] for more details on how to get in touch with Pete.
-
Featured videoMatthew Hassell – Project manager at Ethos Matthew Hassell – Project manager at Ethos
We speak with Matthew about his career as a project manager in construction and how he found that the working world is quite different to school. In his experience, he’s found that in work people are more accepting of your stammer and that means you shouldn’t be afraid to be yourself!
-
Dan Tiller – Inspector in the Police force Dan Tiller – Inspector in the Police force
Dan Tiller used to work in the police force for 30 years and has spoken to us about his experience, from training to being a supervisor and everything in between. Dan talks openly about how difficult it was to say his name at the beginning but how he didn’t let that stop him from pursuing his dream career. “My 13 year old self would be amazed that I was able to push through, learn the techniques, find out what worked for me, and be in a job where I had to put myself out there…” #stammer #stutter #policeforce #stambassador #careergoals
-
Robbie Little – Cloud consultant at Deloitte Robbie Little – Cloud consultant at Deloitte
Robbie works as a cloud consultant at Deloitte in Belfast. He wanted to challenge himself and so ran 100km over the month of March to raise money for Action for Stammering Children. He did a fantastic job and raised over £1,400. His advice is to always push yourself because it pays off in the end. Great advice Robbie and thank you for taking on this challenge to raise important funds for children who stammer!
-
Zain Ghani – Staying Well Worker at Calderdale Council Zain Ghani – Staying Well Worker at Calderdale Council
You may recognise Zain, as he has been part of Action for Stammering Children’s Youth Panel since 2015. Here, he gives an interview about his role as a Staying Well Worker at Calderdale Council and advice for young people who stammer. Thanks to Zain for contributing so much to the Charity, since joining and giving us your words of wisdom. Zain thinks that you should stretch out of your comfort zone, as you only learn from doing that and taking those first daunting steps.
-
Justice Onwuka – Talent and learning global advisor at Christian Aid Justice Onwuka – Talent and learning global advisor at Christian Aid
This Stambassador interview was done over zoom with Justice. He works at Christian Aid as a talent and learning global advisor. He shares his experiences growing up with a stammer and about how he loves presenting in his job now! His advice is to be easy on yourself, understand that your stammer will not hold you back!
-
Claire-Louise Partridge – Dept. for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Claire-Louise Partridge – Dept. for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)We visited Bristol to go see Claire-Louise Partridge at her DEFRA offices. She explains how her university plans changed but that didn’t stop her from still pursing a fascinating career. Claire-Louise also tells us her biggest stammering achievement and how she managed to cope and carry out a great presentation when talking in front of a huge audience.
-
Georgia Williams – Learning Development Assistant Georgia Williams – Learning Development Assistant
We went up to Sunderland, to visit the lovely Georgia Williams, who is a Learning Development Assistant at the Barbara Priestman Academy. As our newest Stambassador, she talks openly about her biggest stammering achievement, advice for her younger self and advice for people at school with a stammer.
-
Max Milner – UX Associate at Just Eat Max Milner – UX Associate at Just Eat
We visited Max at the Just Eat offices in London to find out more about his UX role. He discussed how he conducts user research meetings as well as what to study in order to become a UX-er
-
Nick Fischer – Intellectual Property Lawyer at Marks & Clerk Law Nick Fischer – Intellectual Property Lawyer at Marks & Clerk Law
It was great to visit Nick and chat to him about his work at Simmons & Simmons. He is really grateful to his employers for being supportive of his stammer and thinks young people should be open about it with colleagues.
-
Sophie Mitchell – Clinical Psychologist with the NHS Sophie Mitchell – Clinical Psychologist with the NHS
Sophie has worked really hard to become a Clinical Psychologist and finds it very rewarding. She wants young people who stammer to know they should understand themselves and their challenges and ask for help when needed.
-
Giles Newlyn-Bowmer – Assessment Design Manager, AQA Giles Newlyn-Bowmer – Assessment Design Manager, AQA
Giles is an Assessment Design Manager for an awarding body who produce GCSE and A Level exams. He thinks young people who stammer should take their time to work out what they do and not rush the decision.
-
Julia Ammon – Trust Fundraising Manager at Blesma, The Limbless Veterans Julia Ammon – Trust Fundraising Manager at Blesma, The Limbless Veterans
Julia really enjoys how competitive her job is and that it challenges her. She thinks young people who stammer should talk about stammering at work and embrace it.
-
Jordan Hall – Parliamentary Researcher for Anna Turley MP Jordan Hall – Parliamentary Researcher for Anna Turley MP
It was great to chat to Jordan Hall about his exciting job as a Parliamentary Researcher for Anna Turley MP. He loves his fast paced role in Parliament and thinks young people who stammer should focus on what they want to do and go for it!
-
Jessica Robinson – Corporate Lawyer at Walkers Jessica Robinson – Corporate Lawyer at Walkers
Jess loves her job as a Lawyer and it’s given her the opportunity to work in different parts of the globe. She wants young people who stammer to know their value and that they should work hard and be heard!
-
Ryan Miller – Product Design Lead at Tracr Ryan Miller – Product Design Lead at Tracr
Ryan works for Tracr, part of the De Beers Group, as a Product Design Lead in the diamond industry. He thinks young people should embrace their stammer and says he wouldn’t give it up if he had the option!
-
Mandy Taylor – Finance Manager – Oakbase Integrated Marketing Mandy Taylor – Finance Manager – Oakbase Integrated Marketing
-
Ben Browett – Customer Reserves Manager at Farr Vintners Ben Browett – Customer Reserves Manager at Farr Vintners
Ben is quite the wine connoisseur and loves his job as a Customer Reserves Manager at Farr Vintners Wine Merchants. He wants young people to know that having a stammer can give you an advantage in life as it teaches you many great character traits that can help you along.
-
Simon Jeffery – Deputy Head of International News, The Guardian Simon Jeffery – Deputy Head of International News, The Guardian
Simon has not let his stammer get in the way of his career in journalism. As the Deputy Head of International News at the Guardian, he wants young people to know that people in the work place are much more interested in what you have to say rather than how you say it.
-
Namrah Chaudhry – External Progression Coordinator, William Morris Sixth Form Namrah Chaudhry – External Progression Coordinator, William Morris Sixth Form
Namrah works in a sixth form in Hammersmith and knows all about the tough transition periods young people face in education. She’s got some great advice for young people who stammer starting out in their careers.
-
Vicky Dineshchandra – Graduate Software Engineer, Cisco Systems Vicky Dineshchandra – Graduate Software Engineer, Cisco Systems
Vicky started his first graduate job a few months back as a Software Engineer at Cisco Systems and is really enjoying it so far. He thinks young people who stammer shouldn’t be afraid to out themselves forward for opportunities.
-
William Laven – Digital Content Producer William Laven – Digital Content Producer
It was great to chat to William about his apprenticeship as a Digital Content Producer at a PR agency in London. He loves the world of work and says his colleagues have been nothing but kind to him about his stammer. He thinks young people should not hold back from doing what they want to do!
-
George Cleary – Medical Case Manager George Cleary – Medical Case Manager
George is a Medical Case Manager working with people who have had catastrophic injuries. He’s been on a long personal journey of self acceptance with his stammer and he wants young people to know their stammer shouldn’t define them or what they can do with their lives.
-
Ronan Miller – Foreign Language Teacher, University of Valencia Ronan Miller – Foreign Language Teacher, University of Valencia
Ronan set himself the challenge of moving to Spain and becoming a Foreign Language Teacher in order to tackle his stammer head on. He wants young people to know that they’re not alone and that being open about their stammer is an important part of raising awareness in the work place.
-
Michael Joyes – PhD Student in Bioplastics at Bath University Michael Joyes – PhD Student in Bioplastics at Bath University
“You’ll start to feel inspired by your stammer and almost, certainly I do anyway, I feel proud to stutter” – Michael is a PhD student at Bath University researching Bioplastics and he has some inspiring words for young people thinking about further education.
-
Chris Nelson – Teacher at St Paul’s Catholic School, Milton Keynes Chris Nelson – Teacher at St Paul’s Catholic School, Milton Keynes
Chris is a teacher at St Paul’s Catholic School in Milton Keynes and he shared his inspiring stammering journey with us for our Stambassadors project. He wants young people who stammer to know that with hard work, there’s no reason why they can’t go for the jobs they really want.
-
Claire Norman – Intelligence Analyst at Cifas UK Claire Norman – Intelligence Analyst at Cifas UK
Claire works as an Intelligence Analyst at Fraud Prevention firm, Cifas, and is also the founder of Stammerers Through University Consultancy (STUC). She has some motivating words for young people starting out in their careers and hopes her own journey can inspire them to shoot for their dreams!
-
Jamie Wilson – Physiotherapist and RAF Reservist Jamie Wilson – Physiotherapist and RAF Reservist
Jamie is a Physiotherapist, RAF Reservist and member of the UK Defence Stammering Network based in Northern Ireland, and he wants young people to know they should not be held back by their stammer.
-
Owais Khan – Property Developer and Public Figure Owais Khan – Property Developer and Public Figure
It was great to chat to Owais about his exciting career in showbiz and property development both here in the UK and around the globe! The Desi Rascals star says he’s used his stammer to his advantage and thinks it’s only made him stronger.
-
Jonty Claypole – Director of Arts at the BBC Jonty Claypole – Director of Arts at the BBC
It was great to chat to the Director of Arts at the BBC, Jonty Claypole, about his journey with a stammer, and why young people should learn to accept their stammer and not allow it to influence their career choices in a negative way.
-
Abed Ahmed – Maths Teacher at Holte School Abed Ahmed – Maths Teacher at Holte School
Abed is a teacher who stammers who went back to work at his old school in Birmingham and started up a stammer group for his pupils there. He’s already doing a fab job raising awareness of stammering and we were so glad to sit down with him to hear all about his journey, how his students respond to his stammer, and what advice he would give to his younger-self if he had the chance.
-
Jimmy Lang – Regimental Career Management Officer, Royal Army Medical Corps Jimmy Lang – Regimental Career Management Officer, Royal Army Medical Corps
It was great to sit down with Captain Jimmy Lang of the Royal Army Medical Corps to talk about his incredible career and how he took his stammer head on to climb the ranks.
-
James Redhead – Director of Income Generation, Redhead Consulting James Redhead – Director of Income Generation, Redhead Consulting
James has advised charities across the UK throughout his career and has lots of valuable advice for young people who stammer starting out!
-
Prasan Modasia – Corporate Solicitor Prasan Modasia – Corporate Solicitor
Solicitor, Prasan Modasia, spoke with us about his career and stammer for our Stambassadors project.
-
Andy McGrath – Editor at Rouleur Magazine Andy McGrath – Editor at Rouleur Magazine
Andy McGrath, Editor at Rouleur Magazine, talks about his career with a stammer.
-
Zain Ghani – Better Living Advisor at Calderdale Council Zain Ghani – Better Living Advisor at Calderdale Council
Zain Ghani, ASC Youth Panel member and Better Living Advisor at Calderdale Council, speaks to ASC about his job.
-
Martin Nicholds – HR Director at BBC Martin Nicholds – HR Director at BBC
Martin is a Director of Human Resources at the BBC and has some fab advice for young people starting out in their careers!
-
Adam Wright – Social Care Team Leader at Warwickshire County Council Adam Wright – Social Care Team Leader at Warwickshire County Council
Adam Wright is a Team Leader of the Social Care Team at Warwickshire County Council and he has tons of inspiring words for young people who stammer thinking about their future careers!
-
Claudine Provencher – Head of LSE Life Claudine Provencher – Head of LSE Life
Claudine, Head of LSE Life at the London School of Economics, speaks to ASC about her career.
-
John Murphy – Owner of Lennon Wright Associates – Recruitment John Murphy – Owner of Lennon Wright Associates – Recruitment
Owner of Lennon Wright Associates, John Murphy, talks about his career with a stammer.
-
Phil Robinson – Speech and Language Therapist Phil Robinson – Speech and Language Therapist
Phil is a Speech and Language Therapist who stammers and he gave us the low down on why he wanted to become an SLT and help other people out there who stammer!
-
Charlie Hilder – Supply Planning Manager at Innocent Drinks Charlie Hilder – Supply Planning Manager at Innocent Drinks
Charlie is the Supply Planning Manager for Innocent Drinks, and she sat down with ASC to talk all things work, stammering and smoothies!
-
Ed Balls – ASC Vice President and Former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls – ASC Vice President and Former Shadow Chancellor
ASC Vice President and Former Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls, was interviewed by Florence about his career with a stammer and how he came to accept it for our Stambassadors project.
