A Hounslow student is now just one step away from the Grand Final of the UK’s largest youth public speaking event due to take place at the West End in July 2025.

Gerda Labortas, a Year 10 student representing Brentford School for Girls, was crowned winner of the Regional Final of Jack Petchey’s ‘Speak Out Challenge’ which took place at The Green School for Girls on 25th February.

Over 30,000 Year 10 students in over 500 state schools in London and Essex take part in the annual event, hosted by the UK’s leading public speaking and communication charity, Speakers Trust and funded and supported by the Jack Petchey Foundation.

Previous winners of the Grand Final have gone on to sell their businesses for 6 figures, act in Hollywood and in critically acclaimed projects, become influencers and public speakers. These include: Actors Jamie Flatters and Idris Sobande, entrepreneurs Tim Armoo and Mike Omoniyi, writer Poppy Noor, and more.

Gerda Labortas was crowned Regional Champion, with a powerful speech titled ‘It’s about HOW you say it’, the key message being that effective communication relies not just on words, but significantly on tone of voice and hand gestures to engage and influence an audience.

Her eloquence and passion caught the eyes and ears of the expert judges, including: Alison Benjamin, Tanya Taylor, Hardip Begol, Cedric Fromageot, Louise Chandler and Madiha Azizi.

As well as receiving a £100 gift voucher, Gerda now proceeds to the online semi-finals with just 37 other regional champions, before the final 15 are selected for the Grand Final, taking place at the prestigious Cambridge Theatre in Covent Garden on 7th July!

During the training, students are given the skills and the confidence to develop and deliver a competition speech on a topic that is important to them. The aim of the training and competition is to amplify young voices.

Gerda said: ‘‘I’d like to say a huge thank you to Jack Petchey for this amazing opportunity!’’

Runner-up title went to Luna Pikula, representing The Green School for Girls, with a speech titled ‘We are lucky to be alive’ and third place went to Treasure Yiga from Gumley House RC Convent School, FCJ, with a speech about faith.

At the Grand Final, Gerda could be competing not only for the honour of becoming this year’s Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge Grand Champion but also for the chance to win £5,000 (a £2,000 bursary for herself and £3,000 for her school).