The Boy in the English Block: Why I Started Vocal Voyage

It started when I was four years old. While other children were beginning to find their voices, I was beginning to lose mine. I developed a stammer, and suddenly, words—the very things meant to connect us to the world—became my biggest hurdle. Throughout primary and secondary school, I was the shy, quiet child. But "quiet" was a survival tactic. I kept my head down to avoid being noticed, and I spent my break times and lunches hiding in my English teacher’s classroom. I wasn't there for extra study; I was there because it was a safe haven where I didn't have to face the social pressure of communicating.

The Statistics vs. My Reality

The research today tells us a stark story. Children who struggle to communicate are six times more likely to be behind in English and eleven times more likely to be behind in Maths by age 11. I wasn’t just a statistic; I was living that reality. I grew up believing I was non-academic, having been predicted an E in Maths and walking away with a D. I was predicted an E in English, too.

However, because Mr Mellor actually took the time to listen and support me, I managed to secure a C in both English Language and Literature. Even at this stage in my life, I have a massive amount of respect for him. He didn't just see a quiet kid; he saw someone who was struggling to navigate the world and helped me realize I was capable of much more.

The Mental Health Toll of Bottling it Up

The weight of not being able to speak goes far beyond grades. Because I couldn't communicate effectively, I learned to bottle everything up. My frustrations, my worries, and my personality were all locked inside, which eventually led to significant mental health struggles. When you can’t express how you feel, those emotions don't just disappear; they grow. For years, I lived with the anxiety and isolation that comes when your internal world doesn't match what people see on the outside.

The journey to finding my voice was deeply personal. The breaking point for me was the realization that I couldn't read my daughter a bedtime story without my stammer getting in the way. I wanted to be the dad who could share those moments with her, and that became my biggest "why." I joined the McGuire Programme, and it was through that work that I finally gained the tools to manage my speech and the confidence to stop hiding. It allowed me to step out from behind the quiet child persona and finally find the voice I knew was in there.

Proving that GCSEs Aren’t the Be All and End All

Armed with that new confidence, I took a leap of faith and went to university. For a long time, I believed those results in school defined my potential, but I was wrong. I eventually graduated with a First Class Honours Degree. That achievement taught me a vital lesson that I carry into my work every day: GCSE results are not the be all and end all. When a young person is given the right environment and the tools to communicate, their true potential is finally allowed to shine. My academic journey is proof that a slow start doesn't mean you can't have a world class finish.

A Career Built on Connection

After leaving university, I "fell" into youth work, and for the first time, everything clicked. Over the years, I’ve held roles as a Youth Worker in Charge, co-managed Young Carers projects, and supported disabled young people. I loved the work, but I knew what it felt like to be 14 and feel invisible. I knew the direct link between communication, academic performance, and mental health because I had lived it. I realized that if I could merge my professional expertise with my personal lived experience, I could create something that didn't exist when I was a kid.

The Birth of Vocal Voyage: A Safe Space to Grow

Vocal Voyage was born to bridge that gap. We aren't a clinical therapy service; we are a community focused on mentoring and youth groups. We provide one on one support with people who truly "get it" to help set action plans for school and life, alongside dedicated group spaces to reduce isolation and build genuine friendships.

Our aim is to create a safe space, an environment where young people don't have to explain themselves. It’s about being around people who understand the struggle without you having to say a single word. Today, it still feels surreal that this is my job. I’ve gone from the boy who was afraid to speak in class to a First Class graduate and the founder of a charity dedicated to making sure no young person feels that same isolation.

To everyone who has supported us so far, thank you. We are here to ensure that every young person has the tools to navigate their own voyage.

Byron Founder, Vocal Voyage www.vocalvoyage.org