Students from Southwark College and Newcastle College were recently given an opportunity to take part in workshops designed to help them build public speaking skills, confidence, and resilience in preparation for their next steps into higher education and employment.
The sessions were delivered by Calvin Akotuah, founder of Loud Speaker, an organisation that has so far supported over 100,000 young people to realise their ambitions and speak their way to success through the interactive workshops it delivers.
During the sessions, students were given tips on how to debate and deliver their points confidently, whether they are in a social situation, the workplace or an interview.
Calvin said: “We are all big speakers around friends, but when it comes to speaking in public or doing presentations, most people suddenly lose their voice, confidence, and enthusiasm. This session is essential to help young people build their confidence and learn how to communicate positively at a crucial point in their life when setting aspirations and shaping their career paths, so they are supported to make the right choices for them and be prepared when approaching employers.”
Ashley Blaze, a music student at Southwark College, added: “The workshop was interesting. Hearing from Calvin was inspiring and gave us a space to discuss topics we could relate to and put points across positively. The session helped me to gain confidence with public speaking.”
As part of NCG, both Newcastle College and Southwark College are committed to helping learners develop the essential skills that will help them to succeed in their education and future employment, from problem solving and leadership to teamwork and communication. Workshops like the Loudspeaker event are delivered as part of the NCG Guarantee, which gives students across all NCG colleges access to additional activities and resources that will help them to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours they’ll need for a successful future.