Meet Grand Finalist, Kairo Reynolds

We are delighted to share that this has been the biggest year ever for Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge. Up to 30,000 students have been trained in over 500 schools across all of London and Essex.

Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge provides year 10 students in state schools across London and Essex with public speaking and communication training to increase their confidence, sense of agency and drive to make a difference in society.

During the academic year, over 500 schools have received a free one-day public speaking workshops for their students. The student’s confidence in speaking to an audience, without notes, is measured at the beginning and at the end of the day. During 2022-2023 76% of students have increased their confidence to stand up and talk to a group of people. At the end of the day, every school nominates one student to go on to a Regional or Digital Final, where they compete again other school finalists and their speeches are judged based on content delivery, structure and positive impact by a panel of esteemed judges. After going on to win the semi-finals, our 15 inspirational, articulate, and impressive speakers are now ready to present their speech to you!

We will celebrate the achievements of these awe-inspiring young people in the heart of London’s West End at Cambridge Theatre on Monday 10th July and crown the 2023 “Speak Out” Champion!

In no particular order, meet 2023 Grand Finalist Kairo Reynolds! 

Their speech ‘Picture this’ earned them and their school, Dormers Wells High School, first place in their Ealing Regional Final. Kairo wants us all to petition for more youth clubs.  

We asked Kairo, what three items or people would you choose to take to a desert island and why? 

My future wife because she makes life interesting, a basketball and a basketball hoop because ball is life.

What is your favourite saying or quote and why?

Hard work beats talent until talent decides to work hard. It keeps me disciplined.

What three top tips on life would you give a Year Seven student? 

Plan for the week ahead, don’t change yourself for other people, don’t take the time you have for granted.

If you could make one change in the world what would it be?

Nap time during exam period to relax.

 You could have made a speech anything in the world. Why did you speak about this one subject? 

Because it’s personal to me and it is something that needs to be addressed and handled properly

And finally, how would you like people to think / act differently from hearing your story?

I’d like people to try and petition for more youth clubs.

Watch Kairo‘s winning speech: