Introducing Alumni Ambassador Elijah Gilbert!

Elijah Gilbert represented Richard Challoner School at the Kingston Regional Final in 2023-24. His speech, wittingly entitled ’Words, Words, Words’, saw him take first place at the Kingston Regional Final. After his success, Elijah was selected as one of only fifteen speakers to go through to the Grand Final at the Cambridge Theatre.  As well as gaining invaluable public speaking skills, the Speak Out Challenge has opened numerous doors for Elijah including running for Kingston Youth Council and UK Youth Parliament.

Elijah is one of our Alumni Ambassadors, a group composed of young speakers who have taken part in the Speak Out Challenge with the aim of sharing their experience of every aspect of the programme from in-school workshop through to the Grand Final. Their purpose is to help shape improvements for the future young people that will participate in Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge.

Since 2024, Elijah has taken part in various Speakers Trust events including a visit to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University, a reception at Westminster Palace and has acted as Student MC at the Kingston Regional Final in 2025.

Two years on from his initial workshop, Elijah believes that the confidence he now has to speak out on a political stage grew from his Speak Out Challenge workshop while in Year 10.  We look forward to see how Elijah follows his political path over the next few years!

Catch up with Elijah’s winning speech: