Students in Hillingdon were given a platform to air their views on a range of subjects during a special ceremony.

 

 

Hosted by Swakeleys School, the event saw eighteen speakers take to the stage to speak out on issues that affected their lives. 

 

 

All received a certificate commemorating their performance. Lauryn Nwaeze, a THA student, was crowned  a regional winner and gained second place for her speech on the London riots: 

 

 

and received a £50 itunes voucher for her success.

 

The evening formed the regional final of the Jack Petchey Speak Out Award, a London wide initiative, funded by the Jack Petchey Foundation to encourage public speaking within youths. 

 

 

Mrs Gordon said: “It provides a great opportunity for young people to quite literally speak out when they might not have previously had the chance.”

 

 

Jack Petchey is  a successful businessman who hailed from a working class background in East London. 

 

He set up the Jack Petchey Foundation in 1999, to give opportunities to young Londoners aged 11-25 and has since donated more than £65m to schools, clubs and projects to benefit young people.