Siouxsie Webster, 19, has been volunteering in our Emmaus Tring shop for two and a half years, helping shop manager Emily sort and display donated stock. Souxsie was diagnosed with Developmental Language Disorder aged 11 and has been passionately campaigning for more recognition and understanding of this grossly under-researched ‘invisible’ condition.
Despite the condition causing chronic anxiety around verbal communication, Siouxsie concentrates on her strengths, which include being kind, creative, empathetic and practical – all skills she is using in her volunteering role at Emmaus, which she “loves”.
I live in Tring, Hertfordshire, and volunteer once a week at my local Tring Branch of Emmaus. On the whole, I prefer to be around the back of the shop, due to my social anxiety around talking to people.
When I was 11, I was diagnosed with severe DLD. This stands for Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). It is a pervasive, lifelong disability that affects my listening skills, understanding, memory, processing and speaking. It is different to Dyslexia, as it affects everything, as language and spoken communication are EVERYWHERE. You cannot escape from talking and communication. However, it also affects reading, Maths and all school based learning.
DLD – a little known condition
DLD affects two children in every single classroom, i.e. 2 in 28 or 7.5% of the population. This makes it five times more common than autism, and even more common than ADHD! However, in my experience, nobody knows about it, and that includes teachers and teaching assistants, GPs, workplaces, CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), psychologists, politicians and so on.
The condition remains massively underdiagnosed, under researched, underfunded and not catered for – recent studies have found that three in five young offenders have undiagnosed DLD.
It is deeply challenging to live with DLD, as it is invisible. You have to be brave and resilient.
I cannot still self advocate for myself, so I use text and email to communicate my needs. All my anxiety (which is chronic) is to do with verbal communication. However, I try and concentrate on my strengths, which include being kind, creative, empathetic, practical and brave.
Campaigning work
I started campaigning for more DLD awareness when I made a piece of artwork for my Art GCSE. It was a big poster with a face in the centre, surrounded by words in a swirl. I did it because I was SO frustrated at my school, where none of my teachers understood me or knew anything about DLD. Even my (then) Speech and Language Therapist didn’t understand DLD!
I thought it was really important to have something to highlight DLD to go into my portfolio for GCSE Art. A Speech and Language Therapist called Amanda (who we had contacted for help), loved the poster and posted it on Twitter. My artwork was then used in a Parliamentary debate on DLD.
From that point onwards, opportunities grew and grew. I have spoken at UCL, The Wellcome Institute, Speech & Language UK, DLDFest, appeared on the Talking DLD Podcast (on Spotify), local BBC 3 Counties Radio and have spoken at various Special Schools. I also started my instagram account @mydldlife, to raise awareness and aspirations re: DLD. Through this, lots of people have got in touch and more opportunities have arisen.
Parliamentary mentions
Around two weeks ago, my mum and I went on the “Fight For Ordinary” Rally in London – which was to highlight SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Rights and the terrible lack of provision and support. While we were there, we were interviewed for ITV social media and also filmed with our banner, which appeared on ITV news that evening.
We then got invited to speak to the new School’s minister, MP Georgia Gould, in Parliament, along with Jane Harris from charity Speech & Language UK. We told Georgia all about DLD and how hard it has been, and still is, to get the right support. I gave her a purple flag to keep. We also spoke to our local MP, Victoria Collins and MP Dr Marie Tidball. As a result of this, I got two personal mentions in the Parliamentary debate on SEND. DLD was also mentioned too! This made me feel very proud and that all my hard work had led up to this day.
Volunteering with Emmaus Tring
I have been volunteering at Emmaus, for around two and a half years. I was already a customer and absolutely loved the shop in Tring, as it is really unique and attractive. My mum got to know the manager Emily and asked if I could start volunteering as part of my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. I did struggle at the beginning as I was unable to self-advocate, i.e. say when I needed a break etc. Emily was really kind and understanding and said that I could text her, as I was in the back of the shop and she was generally in the front of the shop. This worked really well and I still do this to this day. It sounds strange, but it is very hard for me to casually go up to somebody and start talking. They have to initiate the conversation, then I can join in. It makes volunteering there much easier.
Once I had completed my D of E award, I wanted to carry on volunteering, because I enjoyed it so much.
My volunteering role entails mainly working around the back of the shop, sorting out jewellery, putting brooches and earrings onto display cards, making lucky-dip bags, and steaming clothes. I also sometimes clean shelves, dress mannequins and help with displays on the shop floor. I have helped to create a “Spring” window in the past and am doing another for International DLD Day.
Exciting and rewarding
I am from a family of vintage enthusiasts and collectors, so I absolutely love seeing all the new stock come in. I like nosing through the items before they go out onto the shop floor. You really have no idea what you might find. It is exciting and rewarding. I really like being busy and I am always busy at Emmaus, as there is always loads to do. I also like seeing the end results, like a beautifully organised drawer full of watches and bracelets.
I feel included and useful at Emmaus, and know that I do a good job. It has also helped with my independence, as I walk there from home, on my own. I like meeting the other volunteers, hearing their conversations and talking to Emily. For me, (especially as someone with severe DLD, and social anxiety) – this is a really big deal.
From squirrels to Dancing on Ice – every day is different!
Every day is different at Emmaus. Recently a squirrel got into the back room. Emily showed me it on the CCTV camera, it was hilarious as it literally flew through the air and jumped across everything. Plus, there was another squirrel encounter believe it or not, before this! Emily showed me a video of when she managed to catch a different squirrel, that had got trapped inside the shop. She took it to some woodland, and slowly opened the box, and it somersaulted and leapt out very dramatically!
Another recent highlight was when Emily secured all the costumes from “Dancing On Ice”. They were amazing – so glamorous and sparkly. It was a shame I was on holiday when the “Pop Up’’ event happened.
I would recommend volunteering to others. Just go for it! It’s a great thing to do for lots of reasons – making friends, gaining experience and supporting a very worthwhile cause.I would say – give it a go. You might really enjoy it.
All down to Manager Emily’s creativity
It is very rewarding as you know that everything you do goes towards helping people who are struggling with homelessness. People end up homeless for lots of different reasons. It is very sad. Emmaus also trains people in upcycling furniture too, so people can gain valuable skills and be proud of their work. These funky pieces of furniture are then sold in the shops.
I think the way our shop is styled and curated is the best one compared to the other charity shops I have visited. It has a wide range of stock, which some of the other charity shops don’t have. It’s a welcoming and colourful environment and has really nice things to buy.
The Emmaus Tring shop is great because it’s not a normal charity shop. It wouldn’t the way it is without the manger Emily. It’s all because of her, she is very creative and has got a really good eye.
Photos: Siouxsie campaigning for greater recognition and support of DLD at Parliament, her impactful artwork, being interviewed on BBC Three Counties Radio and the window she created at Emmaus Tring for DLD Awareness Day on October 17th 2025.
