What started as an enquiry from Rick Cotterill of Winterfold School to Rotary headquarters at Alcester, asking how to get his school into a Rotary Youth Speaks competition, the enquiry became reality on Tuesday 22nd September when the Bewdley Rotary inaugural Youth Speaks Competition took place.

Two teams from Winterfold School and Heathfield School went head to head in an Intermediate level (11 to 13 years of age) competition at Winterfold School’s amazing Perryn Hall lecture theatre.

The Judges – John Cox – Marcus Hart – Jonathan Wilding

The standard Rotary Youth Speaks format was followed. This specified 3 participants, a Chairperson, a Speaker and a Vote of Thanks. The subjects chosen by the teams ‘A Crisis in our Oceans’, ‘Teen’s Mental Health’, ‘The Loneliness Epidemic’, ‘Gender Equality’ were expertly presented to the judges, and an audience of parents, by the 12 young participants.

Paul Jaspal – Timekeeper

The presentations were of a very high standard with head judge, Immediate Past District Governor Jonathan Wilding, stating “We could easily have been watching a District final and all of the teams would have been competitive.”

The Winning Team being introduced to the Audience

The winning team, with highest number of points from each judge, was Iris, Thalia, and Aurelia from Heathfield School and when the points from each school were added up Heathfield came out on top so receiving the 2026 Champions trophy. The winning team from Heathfield School will now go forward to the District final in February to be held at Halesowen College.

The event could not have taken place without the judges, Immediate Past District Governor Jonathan Wilding, Leader of Wyre Forest District Council and County Councillor, Marcus Hart and the Revd. John Cox. In addition without the skill of the Timekeeper from the District Youth Activities team, Paul Jaspal, who also provided the timing kit, things would not have run as smoothly as they did.

The Winning School’s Trophy

Thanks also to the staff of both schools for their commitment and also to Winterfold School for the use of Perryn Hall and for the very tasty refreshments before the competition.

Having now gained experience of organising a competition we plan to hold our second Youth Speaks competition in November 2027 between Winterfold and Heathfield schools and to, hopefully, include at a senior level head to head between Bewdley and Wolverley High Schools with the winning teams at both levels going on to the District round in February 2028.