In the first of a short series, Speaking Out talks to people in the competitive world of radio and club DJ-ing, who have worked hard to do what they really want to do.

Gareth Cottrell now does live broadcasts in Leeds and Tameside.

During the final few days of preparation to read a live news broadcast, Gareth Cottrell was saying to himself: "How can I do this?" It was the final assessment of his media radio production course, he had to do it to pass, and he felt sick with nerves. "Before I went on air my tutor said to me 'you'll do it well,' and he was right. I did."

Gareth had always wanted to be an entertainer, and one day to be on radio, but after school it seemed impossible. His ambition was fuelled by seeing the presenters of a local radio station on a night out hosted by the station. "It felt so far out of reach. I badly wanted to do it, but there was a massive hurdle in the way - my speech."

Bored after two years doing IT at college, radio still beckoned. Help came with six months of acting tuition, breathing exercises and confidence building from a drama teacher, after little success with NHS therapy. "Some of the breathing and speaking exercises seemed very strange, but I gave it a go and it helped, after a lot of hard work."

"I thought about the radio course and wondered if I could cope, but decided to give it a go. I also wanted to go it alone and not tell anyone at university because I didn't want a 'sympathy vote'. But at the start of the course, dad spoke to my tutor, who was very supportive and encouraging all through the course."

Since graduating from Manchester University last summer, Gareth has been working at Radio Air in Leeds and at an online community station in Tameside. As a community station, it is open to anyone who wants to become involved in radio. Gareth has his own comedy show once a week and provides basic training for putting together a radio programme. "I find it easy helping others who are disadvantaged, looking back to where I was five years ago," he said. "I can understand more about people who have disabilities or disadvantages. It sounds cheesy, but it is a way of giving something back."

What has sustained Gareth through this process?

"As a Christian," he said, "I have asked for God's help. Trusting in God has helped to give me my voice back. My parents have been very important in everything I've done, and the tutor was always supportive."

Looking forward, Gareth said he would love to work for the BBC as a presenter. "It's my ultimate goal," he said. "In radio you have to keep at it, not get sidetracked by other things such as part time jobs, and keep plugging."

From the Spring 2006 edition of Speaking Out, page 12

Employment