One of the most familiar voices on drivetime, Q Radio’s Ibe Sesay, has opened up about his successful career in broadcasting, which initially seemed impossible because of a stammer.

The star shared his story on International Stammering Awareness Day at the South Eastern Trust’s celebration event, at Lisburn’s Primary Care Community Centre (LPCCC).

Ibe joined Speech and Language staff, Service Users and their families, together with Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Station Commander, Peter Bradley, PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Tom Philips and Resident Doctor Anna Rice who all shared their own deeply personal stories of living with their stammer.

Ibe reflected how he has lived with his stammer since the age of seven and how a love of music led to sessions mixing music and performing sets at clubs across Belfast “but I would not touch the mic.”

Pictured at Lisburn’s Primary Community Care Centre’s coffee morning to mark International Stammering Awareness Day are L-R PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Tom Philips, South Eastern Trust Speech and Language Therapist Laura Knott, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Station Commander, Peter Bradley, Ruth Sedgewick, Head of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists’ Northern Ireland Office, Q Radio’s Ibe Sesay and Dr Anna Rice. Pic credit: SEHSCT

placeholder image — Pictured at Lisburn’s Primary Community Care Centre’s coffee morning to mark International Stammering Awareness Day are L-R PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Tom Philips, South Eastern Trust Speech and Language Therapist Laura Knott, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Station Commander, Peter Bradley, Ruth Sedgewick, Head of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists’ Northern Ireland Office, Q Radio’s Ibe Sesay and Dr Anna Rice. Pic credit: SEHSCT

However, a chance to cover an evening slot came up and the rest is airwave history.

Ibe explained how he wanted to use his platform to raise awareness about stammering and stress that having a stammer does not limit your career path.

Ibe remarked how it was Trust Speech and Language Therapist, Barbara Reid, who changed his life.

“There are so many people out there with a stammer, who have maybe felt like I felt, in that they didn’t have the confidence to do small things, things that other people take for granted every single day.

“What the Speech Therapists within the South Eastern Trust do is incredible. They work with people of all ages.

"There are a lot of people out there with a stammer who are not aware of the help that is available.

"I would advise anybody that does have stammer, whose son, daughter, family member needs help, I would encourage those people to get in touch with the Trust and talk to the Speech and Language Therapy Team as they can change lives.”

Resident Doctor at Altanagelvin Hospital, Dr Anna Rice said that the South Eastern Trust Speech and Language Therapy Team helped her grow into the woman she is today and helped her live life to the full.

She continued: “There are so many things that I did not do or put myself forward for, so many opportunities in life that I missed out on because I thought that my stammer would limit me.

"Having attended Speech and Language Therapy for so many years, I have realised that it is nothing to hide, nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to be embarrassed of and it is something that makes me who I am.”

SERC lecturer to represent Northern Ireland at Oxford World Literacy Summit

South Eastern Trust Speech and Language Therapist Laura Knott said: "I am in a very a privileged position in that I get to hear and see that journey from the first day that the person comes in to see us, to the end of their Therapy journey where the person is a confident and effective communicator and living their life as they wish, rather than avoiding words and speaking situations.

“Anybody who is finding that they are having difficulty with their communication skills, can absolutely access Speech and Language support.

“Our message is always that it stammering is a valid way of talking, but if you need some support with your communication skills then Speech and Language Therapy can help.”