Meet Alumni Ambassador Jack Richards!

Despite this being a challenging year for everyone, our Alumni Ambassadors group continue to meet virtually throughout the year.  This group is composed of young speakers whom have taken part in the “Speak Out” Challenge! with the aim of sharing their experience on every aspect of the programme from in-school workshops through to the Grand Final. Their purpose is to help shape improvements for the future young people that will participate in the “Speak Out” Challenge!.

Jack Richards represented The Sweyne Park School at the 2018-19 “Speak Out” Challenge! Southend & Rochford Regional Final where he was runner up with a speech entitled ‘The Power of Dementia’.  Jack explains; “My speech was about the effects dementia has both on the immediate person and on the people around them – such as friends and family”.

Since then, Jack has embraced his “Speak Out” Challenge! platform completing a Level 2 public speaking workshop, acting as a judge at a Digital Final  and now playing an important role on the Alumni Ambassadors panel.

We asked Jack, what attracted you to becoming an Alumni Ambassador?

“The “Speak Out” Challenge gave me a voice that I never knew that I had.  That is why when the opportunity to become an Alumni Ambassador was offered to me, I felt so honoured to become a part of this wonderful process and hopefully help others gain these invaluable life skills and find their own voice.”

We also asked Jack; how would you like your involvement to impact the programme for other young people?

“As an Alumni Ambassador, my primary goal would be to help in anyway I can; I hope to be able to provide support and assistance and to ensure that many more students are given and pursue this fantastic opportunity. “

Watch Jack’s speech here: