Loading...
menu


All Blog Entries

Nicolas Parker becomes a Grand Finalist

8 Jul 2022

After a challenging pandemic with far reaching consequences for schools, students and oracy skills, the Jack Petchey Foundation recognised and responded to the needs of young people. They made it possible for more than 30,000 students to be part of the Jack Petchey “Speak Out” Challenge! this academic year alone, making this the highest number of students ever trained on the programme in such a short amount of this.

The Jack Petchey “Speak Out” Challenge! provides year 10 students in state schools across London and Essex with public speaking and communication training to increase their confidence, sense of agency and drive to make a difference in society.

During the academic year, over 400 schools have received a free one-day public speaking workshop for their students. The student’s confidence in speaking to an audience, without notes, is measured at the beginning and at the end of the day. During 2021-22, 77% of students have increased their confidence to stand up and talk to a group of people. At the end of the day, every school nominates one student to go on to the Regional Final, where they compete again other school finalists and their speeches are judged based on content delivery and structure by a panel of esteemed judges. After going on to win the semi-finals, our 15 most inspirational, articulate, and impressive speakers are now ready to present their speech to you!

We will celebrate the achievements of these awe-inspiring young people in the heart of London’s West End at Cambridge Theatre on Monday 18th July and crown the 2022 “Speak Out” Champion!

In no particular order, meet Grand Finalist Nicolas Parker!

Nicolas’ speech ‘With Great Power’ earned them and their school, Graveney School, a place in the Wandsworth Regional Final. Nicolas talks about the rise of the billionaire and the social responsibility he believes they should take.

We asked Nicolas, if you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be and why? 

“Mauritian Biryani because it’s, simply the best.” 

Why do you think it’s important for young people, like you, to share their stories? 

“So that more people can feel inspired to say stuff that they think is important, and that is how we make the world a better place by the people speaking up and raising solutions to issues not the government making decisions for us.” 

How would you like people to think / act differently from hearing your story?  

“I would like people to think about how we all need to help each other in this world as we are all humans and we are all brothers and sisters and also, I would like people to realise that the norm of people having a million pounds to spare and others not being able to afford bread isn’t something to be considered a norm as we can change it.” 

Watch Nicolas’ winning speech.

Support these young speakers, join us at the Grand Final.