GRAND FINAL 2020 Delivered by In partnership with grandfinal.online 1 WELCOME It has been an extraordinary year for everyone. The way that we live, work and learn has changed completely and many of us have faced new challenges – including the young people that are speaking tonight. They have each taken part in Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge! – a programme which reaches over 20,000 young people a year. They have had a full day of training in communica�on skills and public speaking and have gone on to win either a Regional Final or Digital Final and earn their place here tonight. Every speaker has an important and inspiring message to share with us, and we are delighted to be able to host them at this virtual event. A message from A message from Sir Jack Petchey CBE Fiona Wilkinson Founder Patron Chair The Jack Petchey Founda�on Speakers Trust Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge! At Speakers Trust we believe that helps young people find their voice speaking up is the first step to and gives them the skills and changing the world. Each of the young confidence to make a real difference people speaking tonight has an in the world. I feel inspired by each and every one of them. important message to share with us. Jack Petchey’s “Speak Public speaking is a skill you can use anywhere, whether in a Out” Challenge! has given them the ability and opportunity to classroom, an interview or in the workplace. I am so proud of share this message - and it has given us the opportunity to be all our finalists speaking tonight and of how far you have come. part of the change that they want to make. I look forward to Good luck, and don’t forget, if you think you can, you can! sharing this experience with all of you, and to celebra�ng all of the voices that have been amplified through Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge! this year. You can tweet us throughout the event – to ask ques�ons or tell us when you think a speech is brilliant, use the hashtag #JPSpeakOut 2 PROGRAMME Welcome Interval Philip Allinson Jack Petchey Founda�on MC Maitri Nori Alanna Beeken Speakers Trust Backstage at the Studios Speaker 8 Introducing the Judges Jerry Ndi Introducing the Finalists Speaker 9 Tanesh Varatharajan MC Fizza Zaidi Speaker 10 Speaker 1 Mia Tharia Naomi Lundie-Smith Speaker 11 Speaker 2 Alfie Chase Aneesa Hussain Speaker 12 Speaker 3 Honey Scott Maddeline Balogun Speaker 13 Speaker 4 Blessing Abiri Ava Kalitowski Speaker 14 Speaker 5 Elizabeth Noble Tajkirah Islam A message from Speaker 6 Jack Petchey Foundation Christopher Payne Speaker 7 Announcement of Michaylia Stephenson 2020 Grand Final Champion Go to grandfinal.online to watch tonight’s event and find out more about our speakers 3 GRAND FINALISTS 2020 Speaker 1 Speaker 2 Naomi Lundie-Smith Aneesa Hussain Waltham Forest Camden Frederick Bremer School Haverstock School Speaker 3 Speaker 4 Speaker 5 Maddeline Balogun Ava Kalitowski Tajkirah Islam Redbridge Southwark Redbridge Woodford County High School for Girls The Charter School Seven Kings School Speaker 6 Speaker 7 Christopher Payne Michaylia Stephenson Su�on Havering Su�on Grammar School Hornchurch High School 4 Speaker 8 Speaker 9 Jerry Ndi Tanesh Varatharajan Ealing Bromley Northolt High School Hayes School Speaker 10 Speaker 11 Speaker 12 Mia Tharia Alfie Chase Honey Scott Wandsworth Hammersmith & Fulham North Essex Chestnut Grove Academy Lady Margaret School Hedingham School and Sixth Form Speaker 13 Speaker 14 Blessing Abiri Elizabeth Noble Southend & Rochford Richmond Westcliff High School for Girls Hampton High 5 THE JUDGES Princilla Agyemang 2019 Grand Final Champion Princilla Agyemang won the 2019 Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge! Grand Final with her speech ‘Taboo Love’. She says: “When you make your voice heard, things change, even if it doesn’t feel like it.” Andrew Rawnsley Justine Greening Chief Poli�cal Commentator, Founder The Observer Social Mobility Pledge Andrew Rawnsley is the Observer’s Jus�ne Greening is the Founder award-winning chief poli�cal of the Social Mobility Pledge commentator. He is also a cri�cally and former Secretary of State acclaimed broadcaster and author. for Educa�on. Jus�ne is a He says: “Achieving the ambition to leading advocate for social equip every young person with the mobility and the Social Mobility confidence to speak is essential for Pledge is the largest business the future health of our society and campaign of its kind. the vibrancy of our democracy.” Guvna B Lee Ridley Author and Rapper Comedian Guvna B, otherwise known as Lee Ridley, otherwise known as the Isaac Borquaye, is a double MOBO Lost Voice Guy, is a comedian and award winning rapper and author. winner of Britain’s Got Talent. He He says: “Be your most authentic says: “Seeing as I’m without an self without fearing what others actual voice, communication is will think.” everything to me. I’ve experienced first-hand what its like to not to be able to communicate, so I know how important good communication is.” 6 Niall Gray Christine Ohuruogu Capital FM DJ Olympic Medallist Niall Gray is a DJ for Capital FM Chris�ne Ohuruogo is an Olympic who found TikTok fame during medallist and one of Great lockdown. He says: “Helping young Britain’s most successful athletes people to build their confidence ever. She says: “Empowering strengthens important young people is important because communication skills for the young people need the future.” encouragement, love and support to grow and develop for the betterment of all our futures.” Ed Balls Sonali Shah Broadcaster, Writer, Economist Broadcaster Ed Balls is a writer, professor at Sonali Shah currently hosts the Kings College and previous Shadow National Lottery Live, Radio 4’s Chancellor for Labour. He says: Today programme sports bulle�ns “The next generation of young and BBC One’s Escape to the people will have big problems to Country. She says: “Words and solve and even bigger divisions to ideas can change the world - the heal and good communication is at key is to communicate them in an effective way.” the heart of finding solutions - it’s one important way to be empowered and empower others.” Mahatir Pasha Robyn Richford Previous JPSOC Grand Finalist, TV and Radio Presenter Deputy News Editor, ITV News Robyn Richford is best known for Maha�r took part in Jack her work every Saturday and Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge! Sunday morning on ITV’s Grand Final in 2011 and is now a Scrambled, her breakfast control successful journalist. He says: “If show on Fun Kids Radio and young people are not empowered, Skyone’s What’s Up TV. we risk paving the way for apathy She says: “Finding your voice to to flourish.” me is when you say what you believe and believe what you say. When you get to this point you’ll be unstoppable!” 7 The Jack Petchey Founda�on was set up by Sir Jack Petchey Speakers Trust and the Jack Petchey Founda�on share a CBE to inspire and celebrate young people. To date we have vision for every young person to be able to speak and be invested over £133 million in programmes to benefit young heard and to believe in themselves. Speakers Trust exists to people aged 11-25 across London and Essex. We recognise unlock poten�al through the power of communica�on. Our over 12,000 young people for their achievements each year vision is for every young person to be able to speak through our Achievement Awards Scheme! This year, to confidently and be heard. We work in partnership with the celebrate our 21st Birthday we’ve been running extra Jack Petchey Founda�on to enable over 20,000 young people programmes including compe��ons, 21st Birthday grants and a year to share their posi�ve message with their peers and new awards to recognise young people who have gone above community. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how and beyond to help others during the pandemic. All the young important connec�on and communica�on are in the world – people we work with, including the Jack Petchey “Speak Out” we can deliver workshops to all schools live or remotely – Challenge! Finalists here tonight, show that when you click here for more informa�on. recognise young people’s achievements and provide them with opportuni�es, they go on to reach even greater heights. Read our Shaping our Future report and hear from our young people here. You can tweet us throughout the event – to ask ques�ons or tell us when you think a speech is brilliant, use the hashtag #JPSpeakOut As well as thanking Sir Jack Petchey, the trustees and staff at the Jack Petchey Founda�on, the board, Ambassadors and staff and freelance team from Speakers Trust, we would like to extend this to all the staff and students from the schools who have made Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge possible this year • Barking Abbey School, A Specialist Sports and Humani�es College • Barking Riverside School • Dagenham Park CofE School • The Warren Comprehensive School • Eastbrook School • Eastbury Community School • Elutec • Goresbrook School • Robert Clack School • The Sydney Russell School • All Saints Catholic School and Technology College • Copthall School • East Barnet School • Christ’s College Finchley • Finchley Catholic High School • Friern Barnet School • Hasmonean High School for Boys • The Compton School • JCoSS • Mill Hill County High School • Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet • St James’ Catholic High School • St Mary’s and St John’s CofE School • Whitefield School • The Archer Academy • The Henrie�a Barne� School • The To�eridge Academy • Wren Academy • Hasmonean High School for Girls • Haberdashers Askes Crayford Academy • Harris Garrard Academy •