Tom Bosworth joins panel

On Monday 10th July, Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge Grand Finalists will take to the stage of the Cambridge Theatre. Every speech is unique and inspiring in its own way, making it an incredibly tough decision to determine who the next Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge Grand Champion will be.

The panel consists of artists, presenters, athletes and campaigners all known for using their voice to create change. They will judge the competition based on the content, delivery, structure and positive impact of each speech and help us crown this years winner.

In no particular order, let’s meet the judges! 

Tom is a British two-time Olympic race-walker, who has broken multiple records in his career. He works with charities such as Stonewall to help raise the awareness of LGBT equality in sport. He says “Being proud of who you are and what you stand for allows young people to succeed in so many more areas of their passions”.

We asked Tom, in your experience, what does it mean to find your voice? 

“This begins with feeling confident in who you are and exploring what is important to you. It will then allow you to grow as a person, and as a result learn from others becoming a more rounded and understanding individual whilst brining out your own unique qualities.”

Why is empowering young people important to you?

“I was a confident young person, but it was mostly to hide who I truly was. Sport gave me an escape from reality. Being proud of who you are and what you stand for allows young people to succeed in so many more areas of their passions as they aren’t wasting time and energy concerned about who they are or what they are passionate for.”

What does communication mean to you? 

“Communication is a valuable tool for many reasons. This is how you learn from others, how you can discuss, and how you can take other’s experiences and pick out the parts important and beneficial to you. Communicating can often be difficult for various reasons, having confidence in what you are saying and how you are projecting it can change the outcome of many of life’s challenges. Ultimately communicating is how you can open your mind.”

Thinking about our young speakers, how can they provoke the change they want to see in the world?

“Having pride and passion in what you believe is the ultimate tool. However, these passions come for a reason, a reason that perhaps others have faced when also attempting to provoke change. Learning from their experiences, understanding the challenges or opposing sides will be crucial to avoid making the same mistakes as others. Having a rounded understanding will also give you more compassion, patience and motivation for your cause.”