Having recently celebrated the milestone achievement in training half a million young people with the vital skills for effective public speaking, the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge continues to be as relevant today at equipping Year 10 students across London and Essex with essential public speaking skills, as it first did in 2006.

The “Speak Out” journey is credited as being one of great use and self-discovery. It starts with a communication skills workshop for state secondary school pupils in London and Essex. Students taking part learn how to be confident, and connect with their peers. They learn how to communicate their thoughts effectively and speak with clarity and expression about the topics they are passionate about.

The journey progresses through assembly finals allowing for opportunities to speak in front of a whole school audience, and then a regional final giving students the opportunity to gather in their local borough and celebrate their successes in a special event. Those fifteen who pass through to the semi-final and beyond, then get the once in a lifetime opportunity to speak about their chosen topic on a West End Stage – an event that never ceases to amaze a panel of celebrity judges and a large crowd.

Public speaking is a skill that is often overlooked when educating children today. Whilst it may not come into use in a GCSE Mathematics exam, it definitely serves a much larger purpose in young people’s lives going forward, as it gives them the chance to express themselves properly and connect with those around them on a much greater scale. This is why many believe that public speaking should be a skill more commonly taught in schools, and why organisations like Speaker’s Trust are the future for helping ensure the children of today, know how to express themselves tomorrow.