Sacred Heart High's Nancy Gilmartin has scooped the top prize in the prize in the Hammersmith and Fulham Regional Final of Jack Petchey’s "Speak Out" Challenge!, which was held at Fulham College Boys’ School on Wednesday February 11.

Nancy, 15 impressed the judges with her winning speech "Women in sport – are we really making progress?", fighting off stiff competition from 16 other young speakers from schools in the Hammersmith and Fulham area.

Afterwards she said: " I am so shocked and overwhelmed and really happy. It was so scary but I loved the adrenalin rush as well.

"It was great to be able to speak about something that is important to me and to be heard and appreciated."

After just one day of public speaking and effective communication training, 370 year 10 students aged 14-15, from ten schools in the brough took part in the “Speak Out” competition.

Nancy won a £100 Gift Certificate for coming first and a chance to go through to the Grand Final of the “Speak Out” Challenge! due to take place on July 6 at the West End’s Piccadilly Theatre.

Councillor Mercy Umeh, Mayor, Hammersmith & Fulham presented the awards and said: " It was a brilliant event thanks to the Jack Petchey Foundation and Speakers Trust and these young people got up a spoke so well.

" To be able to be who you are and speak from the heart as they did is wonderful."

The judging panel at the event included Sinclair Beecham (co-founder of Pret A Manger), Keith Blundy (Detective Chief Inspector, Metropolitan Police), Virginia Crompton (Executive Producer, Superact and The British Council), Jane Hill (Presenter, BBC News), Bob Jezzard (Child & Adolescent psychiatrist and former Government advisor) and Jack Liddy (“Speak Out” Challenge! Runner up – 2013/4).

Second place went to Brendan Machell, 14 from London Oratory School with his speech “Asylum” and third place went to Zachary Messersmith, 15 from the Fulham Enterprise Studio with his speech titled " Redefine Beauty".

Delivered by Speakers Trust and funded by the Jack Petchey Foundation, the “Speak Out” Challenge! is the biggest public speaking event of its kind in the world. Now in its ninth year, over 18,000 year 10 students are expected to compete for over £15,000 worth of prizes in this year’s final.

The Jack Petchey Foundation, established in 1999, gives grants to programmes and projects that benefit young people aged 11-25. Since it was established The Foundation has donated over £65 million to a wide range of organisations and schools within London and Essex. The Foundation is eager to help young people take advantage of opportunities and play a full part in society. For further details visit the website.

Speakers Trust is the UK’s leading public speaking training charity which exists to help train and empower people who work for or receive support from the not-for-profit sector (which includes, schools, community groups, charities, colleges and the public sector) to live in a society where everybody has the skills, confidence and expertise to speak in public. For further details visit the Speakers Trust

 

 

February 20, 2015