Youth Speaks

WHITBY ROTARY RELAUNCH YOUTH SPEAKS

Thanks to Caedmon College who came up with the idea, this week saw the re-launch of a well-liked competition for schools, Youth Speaks, which offers teams the chance to debate before an audience a topical issue in teams of 3. There were 6 teams taking part in the event which was hosted by Caedmon College itself, 2 teams from the home school and 4 teams from Fyling Hall.

The winning team was from Caedmon and featured Bella Buckley, Anna Young and Safi Swales who debated the topic:-

“ The British press does not deserve to be trusted with self-regulation.” 

Good arguments both For and Against were used by Anna and Safi while Bella chaired the debate. It was a winning formula as judged by the 2 adjudicators, Clair Stones and Barry Davies.

A good audience of friends and family members were most appreciative of the young people’s efforts as shown by lengthy and generous spells of applause. On behalf of the Rotary Club of Whitby & District, organiser, Mike Stones said:-

” Full credit to all the young speakers who stepped up to the challenge of making a speech and arguing their point in front of an audience. This is not easy at their age, 11 or 12, and they have all done very well. We at the Rotary Club of Whitby are proud to be able to organise this and give them the chance to shine.”

He added, ”Thanks should be expressed to Whitby Bookshop for their generous help in supplying some of the prizes. We will aim to follow this up by trying to make it an annual event once again.”