Youngsters have boosted their confidence and improved their speech at a workshop for those who stammer.

Young people who struggle with speaking, benefited from the five-day workshop run by speech and language therapists from Medway Community Healthcare (MCH).

The group had an opportunity to meet with others who stammer and work their way through activities to increase their fluency and confidence with talking.

MCH ran the sessions at Parkwood Youth Centre for youngsters aged between 10 and 17.

Nathan, 13, who was one of those taking part, said: “I told most of my close friends that I have a stammer and they are fine with it, most of my friends are quite supportive of me.

“It’s okay to stammer and you’re not different.

“Everyone’s the same, everyone’s equal, not everyone’s going to laugh at you because you’ve got people standing behind you who have got a stammer and they know how it feels.

“The group has helped me a

‘It’s okay to stammer and you’re not different...’

lot because the last time I came here it really improved my confidence and coming here again has improved it more.

“It’s made me believe in myself that I can talk more and be more myself.

“It’s been a good journey, I’ve met new people and it’s made me more confident.

“I’ve spoken more than I ever thought I would be able to.”

MCH speech and language therapist Emma Chambers, who ran the group, said: “Five per cent of all children aged two to five years old will stammer at some point as they develop their language and communication skills in early life.

“Approximately 1% of these children will go on to stammer into adulthood.

“Although there are some risk factors, unfortunately we can’t always tell who this will be so it’s important we offer support from an early age.”

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