Speak Out…Speak Loud…Speak Proud - Jack Petchey's Speak Out Challenge

Wow! What a fantastic night at Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge! Grand Final held at the Cambridge Theatre in London on Monday 1st July 2019. Well done to all 15 finalists, you were all amazing, inspiring and executed your speeches perfectly.

My name is Rosie Gospage, in 2017 I was one of the 15 Grand Finalists chosen from over 20,000 young people throughout London and Essex. My speech was about my experience of mental health, a topic very personal to me but thanks to the trainers from the Speakers Trust who came to my school, my family, friends and teachers who supported me from the start of my journey, I was able to find the confidence to speak out.

I placed third in the Grand Final 2017, I was absolutely elated and from there on I have embraced every opportunity which has come my way. It is an absolute pleasure working with the “Speak Out” Challenge! and Speakers Trust. In 2018 I was invited to become part of the Alumni Ambassador Group, which has been an amazing experience. We feel welcome, valued and that our opinion counts.

In 2018 I returned to the Grand Final as an MC for the evening, the nerves returned but it was another fantastic experience, so empowering listening to the amazing speeches from the wings and giving impromptu commentary.

At this year’s “Speak Out” Challenge! Grand Final, together with another Alumni member, we took on the role of Social Media Takeover for Instagram @speakers.trust, it was so much fun and a real honour to accept. Our role included photographing the speakers, making Boomerangs, videos, interviewing the judges and VIP guests; generally capturing and sharing a truly wonderful evening using the official event hashtag #JPSpeakOut. We hope we gave a true insight to the amazing effort everyone involved in the #JPSpeakOut set out to and did achieve.

I look forward to seeing you at future events and of course at Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge! Grand Final 2020!

Written by Rosie Gospage, “Speak Out” Challenge! Alumni