Youth Speaks Public Speaking Competition 2025

The 2025 District 1285 Youth Speaks public speaking competition is open for entries. The 2024 competition was our biggest ever, with 71 teams from 38 schools. We're aiming higher for 2025, seeking to benefit even more young people.


Youth Speaks Grand Final

2025 District Youth Speaks Competition

The experience of public speaking is hugely valuable in building confidence and ambition. Youth Speaks gives young people the opportunity to speak about something which matters to them.  Whatever they choose it’s their say. The team of three consist of the Chair, the Speaker and the Proposer of the Vote of Thanks. Each have distinct and challenging roles. The Speaker has 6 minutes to address the audience, the others 2 minutes each.

Each year we look to provide the benefits of Youth Speaks to more young people and every year is a record year as the numbers grow. 

Competition information is in the Youth Speaks Information Pack 2025 (click to download). Details of how to take part are in the Youth Speaks Entry Pack 2025 (click to download)Further support material for participating clubs and schools is available from the Youth Speaks District Coordinator.

District Heats 2025 (See the Entry Pack for more details.)

Radcliffe District Heat (23rd January 2025, 5.30 p.m.)

Biddulph District Heat (27th January 2025, 6.00 p.m.) 

Wilmslow District Heat (28th January 2025, 6.30 p.m.) 

St Helens District Heat, (29th January 2025, 6.00 p.m.) 

Leigh District Heat (30th January 2025, 5.00 p.m.) 

Golborne District Heat, (6th February 2025, 5.15 p.m.)  

Macclesfield District Heat (4th February 2025, 5.30 p.m.) 

Bolton District Heat (5th February 2025, 5.30 p.m.) 

Rochdale District Heat (3rd February 2025, 5.30 p.m.  

Knutsford District Heat (11th February 2025, 5.30 p.m.)

Tameside District Heat (12th February 2025, 5.30 p.m.)

Warrington District Heat (13th February 2024, 6.00 p.m.)

District Finals 2025

District Final S  Sunday 2nd March 2025, 1.30 p.m. (Hosted by Macclesfield Castle Rotary)

District Final NE Sunday 16th March 2025 1.00 p.m. (Hosted by Rochdale Rotary) (Doors open 12.00)

District final NW Wednesday 12th March 2025 5.30 p.m. (Hosted by Newton-le-Willows Rotary)

Youth Speaks Grand Final 2025

Sunday, 23rd March 2025, 1.00 p.m. at the Forest Hills Hotel, Overton Hill, Frodsham, WA6 6HH (Hosted by Frodsham & Helsby Rotary)

The results of the 2025 competition will be entered above as they happen. In the meantime here are the results of our fantastic 2024 competition, with more teams, more schools and more clubs than ever before.

Youth Speaks District Final Results 2024

District Final S  "The Warren Heyes Shield" District Champion Wilmslow High School

District Final S  "The Wendy Sutcliffe Shield" District Champion Fallibroome Academy

District Final NE "The Henshaw Shield" District Champion Bolton School Girls' Division

District Final NE "The Farraday Shield" District Champion Bury Grammar School

District final NW "The Peter James-Robinson Shield" District Champion Helsby High School

District final NW "The Swati Mukherjee Shield" District Champion Hope Academy

Youth Speaks Grand Final Results 2024

The Forest Hills Trophy (Intermediate) Winners Laurus Cheadle Hulme School Runners-up  Bolton School Girls' Division
The Forest Hills Trophy (Senior) Winners  Bury Grammar School Runners-up  Bedford High School
 

Youth Speaks North of England Final Results (Prizes sponsored by RSK Group Ltd.)

The North of England Final took place on Sunday, 21st April 2024, with teams from Balshaw's Church of England High SchoolCarnforth High School, Bolton School, Laurus Cheadle Hulme School, Bury Grammar School and Bedford High School. It was a fantastic event with superb performances from the teams. Bolton School (intermediate) and Bedford High School (senior) received the North of England individual trophies and prizes which were kindly donated by RSK Group Ltd. Runners up were Laurus Cheadle Hulme School (intermediate) and Bury Grammar School (senior).

Participating Schools in the 2024 District competition

Alderley Edge School for Girls, All Hallows Catholic College, Bedford High School, Beech House School, Birchwood Community High School, Bolton School (Girls), Bury Grammar School, Byrchall High School, Cardinal Newman Catholic High School, Cheadle Hulme High School, Congleton High School, Culcheth High School, Didsbury High School, Falinge Park High School, Fallibroome Academy, Golborne High School, Great Sankey High School, Hawkley Hall High School, Hazel Grove High School, Hazel Wood High School, Helsby High School, Hope Academy, James Bateman Middle School, Knutsford Academy, Ladybridge High School, Laurus Cheadle Hulme School, Laurus Ryecroft, Lymm High School, Oldham Hulme Grammar School, Sharples School, St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, St. Mary's Catholic High School, The Macclesfield Academy, Tower College, Tytherington School, Westhoughton High School, Wilmslow High School, Woodhouse Academy.

Participating Rotary Clubs in 2024

Biddulph, Bolton Daybreak, Bolton Lever, Bolton with le Moors, Bramhall & Woodford, Chadderton & Failsworth, Cheadle Royal, Congleton, Frodsham and Helsby, Knutsford, Leigh, Macclesfield Castle, Manchester Breakfast, Newton & District Jubilee, Newton-le-Willows, Radcliffe, Rochdale, Sandbach, St Helens, Tameside, Warrington, Westhoughton, Widnes, Wigan, Wilmslow & District.

Personal information will be used in compliance with the Rotary Privacy Notice - Youth Competitions (click to download).

The feedback we had from previous competitions is interesting reading and shows the value of Youth Speaks. Not only do the young people involved benefit personally, they also have a wider impact as role models for their peers. Click to download the summary Youth Speaks Feedback. 

Warren HeyesContact Warren Heyes about this page:

(ALL fields required)

(If you are a Rotarian, please name your club.)

Related pages...

RYLA

more RYLA

Young Artist poster

Young Artist

more Express yourself and share your creative talents by taking part in the annual Rotary Young Artist competition.

Young Writer

more Let your imagination run wild, and get creative with the written word by taking part in the the annual Rotary Young Writer competition.

Young Photographer

more Express yourself by putting your photography skills to the test at the annual Rotary Young Photographer competition.

Young Filmmaker

more Write, edit and direct your very own short film to transport viewers and stir their emotions as part of the annual Rotary Young Filmmaker competition. Lights, camera, action!

Young Chef

more Fancy yourself as a budding cook? Put your culinary skills to the test and have your three course meal judged by industry professionals as part of the annual Rotary Young Chef competition.

Young Environmentalist

more Are you passionate about the planet? Do you have what it takes to create ingenious ways to tackle environmental issues? Then take part in the annual Rotary Young Environmentalist competition.

Young Musician

more The Rotary Young Musician Competition is a well-organised, established and successful competition promoted by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (Rotary GB&I).

Young Citizen Awards

more Do you know someone who is an inspiration to others? Do they go the extra mile to make a difference? Nominate them for the annual Rotary Young Citizen Awards to celebrate the impact they make.

Interact Clubs

more If you’re aged between 12 and 18, and would like to take part in fun activities, raise money for local charities, travel to far-off countries, experience different cultures, meet new people and make new friends, then Interact is the club for you!

Resources for Rotarians

more If you are a Rotarian involved in Youth projects, you can get further guidance and advice here.

back to page above this...

District Youth Services

back Thousands of young people get involved with Rotary’s competitions, programmes and activities, all designed to unlock their potential.