Youth Speaks 2024

Three teams from Beaminster School and two from the Colfox Academy displayed their debating skills to a packed audience of over 80 people in Bridport Town Hall.

The teams were in two age groups; Intermediate aged 11 to 13 and Senior 14 to 17 years old.

The evening was organised by PPs Clive Bath and David Weston from our club with catering by Rachel Weston and Christine Bath and general help from all those members present. The event was also supported by our friends from the Rotary Club of Brit Valley.

Rotary Youth Speaks is a team competition. Each team of three delivered a 15-minute debate on a topic of their choice. For each team, the chairperson welcomed the audience, introduced their speaker and their chosen topic. The proposer put forward arguments for the motion which were countered by the opposer. The team then responded to a question from the audience after which the chairperson closed the debate with a summing up.

Judges for the competition were Jane Richards, Sandra Hooker and Lynne Thomas and the time-keeper was PP Roger Pollock.

All of the teams performed with skill and confidence beyond their years but no winners were announced. Instead the marks of all the teams will be carried forward to the next round of the competition. This will be held in Beaminster School on Wednesday 21 February, organised by the Rotary Club of Brit Valley.

The winning senior team and the winning intermediate team will be determined based on the scores from the two rounds. They would then progress to the District final at the Kings of Wessex academy, Cheddar on 2 March.