NCG recently invited more than 11,000 students to take part in confidence-boosting, public speaking workshops, as part of a huge focus on transferable skills and mental health.
Taking place over fourteen days across the Group’s seven colleges, Liverpool-based organisation Loud Speaker delivered the live workshops to all of NCG’s further education students, as well as degree students.
The unique format, loved by premier league football foundations such as Chelsea Football Club Foundation and Aston Villa Football Foundation, aims to boost self-esteem, develop confidence and allow young people to walk away with public speaking skills.
Liz Bromley, Chief Executive Officer of NCG, who championed the Group-wide rollout of the sessions following a pilot last year, said: “Preparing for a successful future means gaining skills, knowledge and behaviours outside of the classroom. These experiences are invaluable to students, taking them outside of their comfort zone and helping them to think differently about the world and, more importantly, about themselves.
“Loud Speaker is an excellent initiative that instils confidence in young people and reinforces the message that NCG gives all of our learners - that everyone has potential inside of them and success looks different for everyone. I’m so glad we were able to deliver this at scale across the Group. We’ve had great feedback from students and I hope that they’ll use these life lessons in their everyday lives both now and in the future.”
Kate Gilmour, an Aviation Operations student at Newcastle College said: "I enjoyed the Loud Speaker event, as our guide created a safe and comfortable environment to speak about difficult topics and helped us all learn that it’s okay to talk and express your feelings.”
Tanner Kubilay, a Performing Arts student at Lewisham College, added: “I had an incredible amount of fun today, and the impact on my confidence was remarkable. When I first walked into the room, I felt shy and opening up to a room full of people was daunting. However, Richard, our guide, helped me feel empowered to speak up, identify steps to build my confidence and learn tips on public speaking skills.”
Richard Allen-Campbell from Loud Speaker said: "We have embarked on an exhilarating journey by taking our live tour to the colleges in the NCG college group. Our mission is not just a speaking engagement; it's a transformative experience designed to ignite confidence within each learner. The team have had a great time and a profound experience of witnessing the limitless possibilities within the hearts and minds of those eager to share their unique stories with the world."
Since 2019, Loud Speaker has been instrumental in helping over 100,000 young people discover their voices and boost their confidence. They have worked extensively in schools, colleges, and youth groups, contributing significantly to the development and empowerment of their participants.