Youth Speaks event at Heywood House

Pupils from Matravers School in Westbury took part in the annual Youth Speaks competition last month, organised by Westbury Rotary Club and Ryan Childs as part of the Heywood Literary Festival.  

The event, held at Heywood House, featured four teams delivering thought provoking speeches on a range of topical and social issues.

The teams and their topics were:

• Climate Change.  Liberty Masunda, Michelle Dwoman and Cedric Mpfawi.
• Experiences of Younger People. Oliwia Grazynska, Flora Wild and Mya Brewer.
• Immigration from Ukrainian Refugee Expectations. Liz Dzisiak, Tarrin Millier and Alex Khan.
• SEND Schools.  Jowan Foale, Hariet Yeatman and Cassie Bradley.

The evening went splendidly with all four teams from Matravers School in fine form.  The speakers proved to be exceedingly well researched in their chosen topics and responded to questions from the floor with clarity and confidence. 

The four judges praised the teams and found it so difficult to separate them they awarded a joint first prize to all four teams, a great win for Matravers.

Thanks must be given to Ryan Childs for arranging, in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Westbury, the event and to Chris DaCosta for allowing the event to be held in the impressive Heywood House. 

Thanks also to the judges, Mayor Cllr Jane Russ, Col Ian Andrews from Leighton House and Pippa Masters from Pinniger Finch & Co law firm.  They carried out their task with great diligence and fairness,

It is hoped that one or more of the teams will progress to the National Rotary Youth Speaks competition.