YOUNGSTERS from across the borough impressed judges at the Harrow final of the Jack Petchey ‘Speak out’ Challenge.

SSuuna Golooba-Mutebi, 15, from Nower Hill High School, Pinner scooped top prize at the challenge held at the brand new buildings of Whitmore High School on Monday, December 6.

Ssuuna’s speech on his chosen subject, ‘It’s not a lie – the truth is you are ignorant’ explored the ‘abuse of language’ by young people.

His speech won him a standing ovation, as well as an iPod touch and a chance to go through to the grand final of the Speak Out Challenge next summer at Queen Elizabeth Hall at London’s South Bank Centre.

Run by the chartity Speakers Trust, Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge is the biggest public speaking event of its kind in the world.

Initial rounds are taking place in over 550 schools across London and Essex. Nine schools in Harrow took part which involved 325 students from Year Ten, who all received a full day of training in public speaking and effective communication.

The strongest candidate, as well as the runner-up from each school went forward to the final of 17 students speaking out passionately about issues important to them.

Adeola Adebiyi aged 15 from Park High School Stanmore claimed second prize on Monday evening with her subject ‘Can Beauty Be Defined?’ and third was Sam Coffey aged 15 from Salvatorian Catholic College in Harrow Weald.

Sam’s speech, about not giving up when things are tough – titled ‘Attitude is Altitude’, won him a standing ovation from school friends and teachers in the audience.

Judges included Billy Schwer, former British and Commonwealth boxing champion, and now a motivational speaker.

He told the Harrow Times: “This was my second year judging the competition and I was really looking forward to it. I just found these young people incredibly inspirational.”

Other judges included Ritu Sethi senior partner of the Sethi Partnership Solicitors and 2008 Asian Business Woman of the Year, Gill Roberts, curriculum adviser, from Harrow Teachers’ Centre, and Reece Miller, a sixth-form pupil from Cardinal Wiseman School in Ealing and previous winner from Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge Ealing district final.

Gill Roberts said she was incredibly impressed with the youngsters at the final. She said: “I could not believe how high the standard was, I am not even sure adults could speak this well.”

The prizes were presented by the mayor of Harrow, councillor Asad Omar, who said he found the evening ‘inspirational’.

Sponsored by the Jack Petchey Foundation and now in its fifth year, up to 20,000 young people are expected to compete for more than £25,000 worth of prizes in this year’s final The Jack Petchey Foundation, established in 1999, gives grants to programmes and projects that benefit young people aged 11 – 25.

Since it was established the foundation has donated more than £60 million to a wide range of organisations and schools within London and Essex.

The foundation’s aim is to help young people across the country take advantage of opportunities and enable them to play a full part in society.