AFTER years spent feeling isolated and alone because of her stammer, a Middlewich mum is hoping to change public perception of the condition by talking about talking.

This Sunday Mandy Taylor, of Alexander Road, will feature in the latest BBC One Lifeline Appeal on behalf of the British Stammering Association (BSA).

The 46-year-old features alongside rapper and spoken word artist Scroobius Pip, who stammers himself, in the appeal which aims to change the world for people who stammer.

Mandy, originally from Northern Ireland, began to stammer in early childhood. Her speech deteriorated further with the sudden death of her mother when she was a child and her family life fell apart when her stammer became more severe. At times it was a crushing experience for Mandy.

She explained: “I’ve lost count of number of times I’ve been laughed at for my stammering in high street stores, restaurants and at events.

“When I was younger, I wouldn’t order my own food when out for dinner, I avoided fast food places or anywhere I had to ask for something. I’d walk home instead of getting a bus because asking for a ticket was embarrassing. I didn’t have a takeaway delivered to the house until I was about 35.”

It was after watching The King’s Speech that Mandy, a finance officer at Oakbase Integrated Marketing in Wilmslow, discovered the BSA.

She said: “It made a big impact on me. I just thought, if I think it’s hard for me, how must it have been for him? That man was the King of England and had so much pressure. Here I am worried about talking to a few people – he had crowds to address. I just had to get myself together.”

Mandy discovered the BSA via an online search. Through the organisation she found many supportive friends and met her partner Pete.

Mandy describes the support of the BSA as ‘incredible’ and says it’s been life changing, transforming her from a ‘choking ivy into something positive, making my world a brighter, happier place’.

Mandy is especially passionate about advocating the BSA’s work, because not only does she and Pete stammer, three of their children do too.

She said: “I don’t want them to go through the same struggles that I did growing up. It’s important for people living with a stammer to know that they are not alone. Yes, it can be scary to be open about it, but it does help to know that there is support out there and it is easier if you ask for help.”

She adds that it’s also important for others who don’t stammer to know how to react to someone who does.

She said: “Things have got so much better for me, but I still have negative experiences. I’ve had bar staff ask me if I have had enough to drink and a taxi driver once refused to have me in his car when I stammered confirming my name and destination. I’ve had countless people hang up on me over the telephone when I blocked on words or they say the line is bad.

“I recently had a medical professional mimic my stammer at an appointment which was totally inappropriate.”

Mandy says one of the most supportive things you can do when speaking to someone with a stammer is just give them time.

She said: “We all need to be more mindful of our actions and how they can impact on others. If you hear a person stammer, smile and wait, it could have taken them a long time to be where they are at that moment in time.”

The BBC One Lifeline appeal for the British Stammering Association launches at 1.55pm this Sunday, November 18.