Adam Black, a McGuire Programme member, receives the British Empire Medal for his services to raising awareness of stammering.

Adam Black, from Eaglesham, Renfrewshire, Scotland, and his newly presented British Empire Medal – awarded for his services in raising awareness of stammering in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2019.

Adam Black, a McGuire Programme UK North Course Instructor and a teacher, who learned how to control his childhood stutter, has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List, for his services to raising awareness of stammering.

The British Empire Medal was presented to Adam Black at a ceremony at East Renfrewshire Council Headquarters in Giffnock on Monday 12th August 2019 by Lord-Lieutenant Colonel Peter McCarthy.

Over the last ten years Adam has appeared countless times in newspapers, journals, magazines, periodicals, on the radio and the television in order to help others who stammer / stutter.  By advertising and publicising his stutter, Adam has given hope and confidence to other people who stammer, particularly children.  If a teacher can teach whilst having a stammer, then any other career or occupation can be a realistic goal in the future for anyone who stutters.

Adam attended his first intensive, residential, four day McGuire Programme stammering therapy course in Newcastle upon Tyne in March 2007, when he was 17 years old.  The course changed his life by enabling him to control his stutter and to speak eloquently.  Once Adam’s stammer was under control he was able to follow his dream by qualifying and training to be a teacher.

Adam Black said: “I am honoured and extremely proud to be presented with the British Empire Medal. I am over the moon to be recognised in this way and I hope that I can continue to raise awareness of stammering and encourage others to embrace their stutter for many years to come.”