Winner of the Find Your Voice public speaking competition

Islington pupils find their voices

Islington secondary school students will be competing against each other over the next fortnight at the semi-finals and finals of Islington’s ‘Find Your Voice – Find A Job’ public speaking competition. The event will give students an opportunity to practice all-important communication and public speaking skills in front of their peers and judges from the business industry.

48 students from eight schools have been successful in winning a place at the 2005 semi-finals, which will take place over two evenings at the Barnsbury Centre on Offord Road. The students have been asked to prepare a short presentation to win over the judges (Speakersbank trainers, teachers and other guests) on an issue or cause that they feel particularly strongly about.

The best 18 speakers will then be selected for the final, due to take place on 16 March 2005 in the Council Chambers of Islington’s Town Hall. All finalists will perform a three-minute presentation for the judges. Suggested topics include changing the education system, the Government’s Children’s Commissioner and job opportunities for young people. Judges will be looking for use of language, knowledge of subject, presence and personality, with a particular focus on whether, on their performance, they would offer them a job.

The judging panel for the finals will consist of eight people including business and education professionals and last year’s winner and runner-up from Holloway & Mount Carmel schools respectively.

The project, run collectively by CEA@Islington, Islington Chamber of Commerce, Islington Education Business Partnership and Speakersbank, has enabled the students to think about the way they present themselves at job or university interviews and develop confidence and self-esteem in a formal but safe environment.

Press and photographers are welcome to attend both the semi-finals and the final contest. Event details are below:

Semi Finals

Date: Tuesday 8 March and Thursday 10 March 2005

Time: 4.30 – 6.30pm (refreshments from 4.00pm)

Venue: Barnsbury Centre, Offord Road, Islington N1 1QF

Final:

Date: Wednesday 16 March 2005

Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm (refreshments from 6.00pm)

Venue: Islington Council Chambers, Town Hall, Upper Street, Islington N1

For further information please contact:

Caroline Rowe, Communications, CEA@Islington

t: 020 7527 5545

Notes

A list of pupils competing in the final will be available on Friday 11 March 2005.

For more information, please contact CEA@Islington's Communications Department:

Louise Trewavas
T: 020 7527 5826
E: louise.trewavas.cea@islington.gov.uk
Caroline Rowe
T: 020 7527 5545
E: caroline.rowe.cea@islington.gov.uk

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