• 90,700 students trained to date in public speaking and effective communication. 441,997 have heard them Speak Out
  • "Great, great, great! This Challenge has built up my confidence massively!" Michael, Barnet
  • £15,000 prize fund including 37 iPods and thousands of pounds worth of iTunes vouchers!
  • "I've never had an iPod so thanks so much! It does so much more than I realised!!" Rianna, Chelmsford
  • On track for 50,000+ unique website visitors this year
  • "I completed the workshop at Mill Hill County High School in 2008. All the skills I learnt that day have helped me during sixth form and now university." Sara, Harrow
  • Increase in confidence grows to 59.5%
  • "Thank you ever so much for such an extraordinary experience and essential life skills training. It was certainly worth it!" Olumide, Newham
  • 100% of teachers recommend the day to colleagues
  • "A wonderful GCSE speaking and listening tool!" - Mr Fowler, Teacher, Islington
  • 70% of schools now holding "Speak Out "Assemblies! - Over 50,000 students spectating.
  • "The public speaking tips cascaded down to all Year 10 students" - Vinsia Mc Queen, London
  • Students have spoken out on over 2000 topics and issues from Alcoholism to Xenophobia - here are the most recent top 5
  • Stereotyping of young people, achievements, parents, knife crime and size zero
  • "What we say is important... for in most cases the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." Jim Beggs



Grand Final 2013 - Monday 1st July 2013

This year's Grand Final will be held on Monday 1st July at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Our panel of judges will select 15 speakers from our 37 Regional Champions and they will speak out in front of an audience of 900! Judges from all walks of life will then have the very tricky job of picking an overall "Speak Out" Challenge Champion for 2013 who will win a prize valued at £5000.

For tickets to the event, please follow this link: http://speakoutchallenge2013.eventbrite.com




Grand Final 2012 - Monday 2nd July 2012


The Grand Final was the climax to the 2011-12 project. In front of an audience of nearly 900, Marcello Harle-Cowan from Oaks Park High School in Redbridge was crowned the 2012 "Speak Out" Challenge Champion 2012! Marcello's speech inspired by his best friend saw him take the prize of £3000 for his school and a £2000 cash bond for himself.

Runner-up was Lorcan Moullier from The Elmgreen School, Lambeth whose witty speech about Justin Bieber won him a cheque for £250.

Third place went to Sara Ahmed from The Plashet School, Newham with a speech entitled 'What did we achieve' with respect to the London riots in 2011.

For photos of the evening, follow this link http://www.speakoutchallenge.com/photodisplay.php?pg=121

The Grand Final 2013 will be held on Monday 1st July 2013 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London SE1 0EH


2011 Gala Grand Final - Friday 8th July 2011



The highlight of the year, the Jack Petchey "Speak Out" Challenge Gala Grand Final, was held on Friday 8th July 2011 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London.

The crown went to Najae Hackett from City of London Academy in Southwark with his entertaining and insightful speech on 'Sleep – our secret weapon’. Along with his title of "Speak Out" Champion 2011, Najae won a cash bond of £2000 for himself PLUS £3000 for his school.

Runner-up this year was Megan Cass from St Philomena’s School in Sutton talking about 'Frankly my dear...'. Megan took home a cheque for £250.

Third place went to Joel Oyelese from Westcliff High School for Boys, Essex. Joel’s speech on ’Show Compassion’ won him a cheque for £150.

Nathan Nwachukwu came fourth and received a cheque for £100. Nathan, from Chafford School in Havering, spoke with wit and intelligence on ’I am an onion’ - a speech about being mixed race.

The evening was a huge success, summed up by a comment from the Head Judge, The Right Honourable John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons: "This event is a tribute to Jack Petchey who for the last ten years, through his Foundation, has been providing opportunities and betterment to young people across London and Essex. The speakers have been quite outstanding and it was extremely difficult reaching a decision. The range of topics was broad and well conceived. This has been a stellar performance, an uplifting experience and the challenge deserves to get bigger."

To read about the final from a judge's point of view, follow this link for a entertaining blog from Grand Final Judge Jeremy Nicholas: http://www.iaindale.com/posts/when-sleep-talks