• 81,725 students trained to date in public speaking and effective communication. 383,501 have heard them Speak Out
• "Great, great, great! This Challenge has built up my confidence massively!" Michael, Barnet
• £15,000 prize fund including 36 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 Finalists 2011

Sandra Iheanacho

Sandra Iheanacho, La Sainte Union Convent School, Camden Sandra wasn't initially picked for the "Speak Out" training but she pleaded with her teacher and look where it's got her...all the way to the Grand Final.  Just goes to show that passion pays off in the end!

Ssuuna Golooba-Mutebi

Ssuuna Golooba-Mutebi, Nower Hill High School, Harrow The wit and intellegence of Ssuuna's speech saw him earn a place at the Grand Final.  The three items he would like if stuck on a desert island are a survival guide; scrabble and Rihanna to sing him to sleep!

Daniel Raskino

Daniel Raskino, Elthorne Park High School, Ealing Politics is a passion of Daniel's and he would love a career in that field, possibly as an MP.  As I'm sure our Grand Final Head Judge, Mr Speaker John Bercow MP, would agree, the "Speak Out" experience will be invaluable to Daniel in the future.

Xhavit Hoxhaj

Xhavit Hoxhaj, Frederick Bremer School, Waltham Forest Xhavit's entertaining speech made him a clear favourite at the Waltham Forest Regional Final. He would like to be remembered as the preson who destroyed the reputation of the Albanian National Party!

Megan Cass

Megan Cass, St Philomena's School for Girls, Sutton If Megan were to win and become "Speak Out" Champion 2011, she would scream and then hug everyone close to her...and then she would treat her Mum!  Will her dream come true on 8th July?  Watch this space!

Bertram Silvera

Bertram Silvera, Graveney School, Wandsworth Bertram impressed the judges with his moving speech on 'The Most Precious Gift'.  His favourite saying is "don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon' - wise words indeed!

Joel Oyelese

Joel Oyelese, Westcliff High School for Boys, Rochford and Southend Joel is yet another example of a reserve going on to win his Regional Final and making it all the way to the Grand Final.  And what did he learn from his journey....never give up!

Najae Hackett

Najae Hackett, City of London Academy, Southwark Najae's speech on sleep saw him win a place in the Grand Final.  He would like to work in finance and be remembered as the kid with the million dollar smile!

Rebekka Choudhury

Rebekka Choudhury, Copthall School, Barnet 'A clean room is a sign of a wasted life!' is Rebekka's favourtie quote!  But do her parents agree?!  Maybe we'll find out in her speech about growing up.

Nathan Nwachukwu

Nathan Nwachukwu, Chafford School, Havering Nathan is another young person keen to pursue a career in politics - this time his dreams of being Prime Minister 'in order to get us out of the mess we are in now!'

Samra Mayanja

Samra Mayanja, The Harwich School, East Essex Samra won the judges over with her inspriring speech on 'If today was your last day'.  She would like the world to remember her as a combination of Anna Wintour, Rosa Parks and Wonderwoman!

Elizabeth Awosode

Elizabeth Awosode, St Martin-in-the-Fields School, Lambath 'The greatest pleasure in life is in doing the things people say you can't do' is Elizabeth's favourite saying.  If anyone ever told Elizabeth she couldn't stand up in front of over 900 peole and 'speak out', they'll be proved wrong on 8th July!

Charisma Nash

Charisma Nash, Grays Convent School, Thurrock and Castle Point Charisma hopes to have a career in medicine and become a doctor.  However, she would be more than happy for people to remember her for her success in Jack Petchey's "Speak Out" Challenge.

Sam Baxter

Sam Baxter, Richard Challoner School, Kingston Sam's experience with Jack Petchey's "Speak Out" Challenge! has taught him to practise his speech in front of friends as they will always be honest with you!  He would like to become a chef one day.

Mahatir Pasha

Mahatir Pasha, Caterham High School, Redbridge Mahatir dreams of becoming a world reknown journalist and has even produced his own short film already.  Yet another profession that can only benefit from such excellent public speaking training!