News, oracy tips, views and blogs from the English-Speaking Union

Join | Donate | Volunteer:

Join

Become part of a 5,000+ community which believes that speaking and listening skills are central to personal fulfilment and cultural understanding

Become a member

Donate

One-off or regular donations are vital to our work, helping us ensure that young people everywhere have the oracy skills they need to thrive

Support our work

Volunteer

We’re hugely grateful to those who volunteer their time in helping to organise and run ESU programmes and competitions. Find out how you could help

Volunteer

‘We rely on the generous support of our members, donors and volunteers to ensure we can reach those children who need our help most’

Home > News and views

Find all of our latest news, views, blogs and information. Use the filter to search by topic

News and views

A photograph of three female students of South Wiltshire Grammar School along with an old man and an old woman standing in front of a registration table inside a hall.

Success for South Wiltshire Grammar School

South Wiltshire Grammar School triumphs at the South West Region Final of the ESU-Churchill Public Speaking Competition

Brentwood School succeed at the East Region Final of the ESU-Churchill Public Speaking Competition

Brentwood School progress to the ESU-Churchill Public Speaking Competition Grand Final after an impressive East Region Final

 James Thompson posing for a photo

ESU-Churchill Public Speaking Competition Top Tips 

ESU alumnus and Public Speaking Competition judge James Thompson shares his expertise

 Young pupil in school uniform standing up and speaking on stage, two other pupils are on stage with her

ESU-Churchill Public Speaking Competition Regional Finals, 12 March

Read about the Lincolnshire Branch Regional Finals of the ESU-Churchill Public Speaking Competition

 An aerial view photograph of a small community in Honduras with the mountain in the background

Spalding to Honduras - worth the wait

Hear how Jodie Rhodes, winner of ESU Lincolnshire’s 2021 Travel Grant, is spending her time in Honduras

 A young pupil giving a speech while another pupil is standing to ask them a question and another pupil is writing her notes

Hertfordshire Branch Final of the ESU-Churchill Public Speaking Competition

The Hertfordshire Branch of the ESU were delighted to host an exciting branch final of the ESU-Churchill Public Speaking Competition

 Someone posing for a picture related to the theme

Sexism in schools

Elinor, a finalist in the East Region Public Speaking Competition in December 2021, delves deeper into the issues with Brian Cooke, Chair of ESU Colchester

 A close-up picture of Luise Ketel

Luise Ketel

Event and Memberships Coordinator for the London branch Luise enjoys volunteering for the ESU as a passionate supporter of oracy and non-profit work

 A picture of Professor Neil Mercer, Professor Emeritus of Education at the University of Cambridge and Director, Oracy Cambridge.

Oracy in Bedfordshire

The Ouse Valley Branch of the ESU were delighted to host Professor Neil Mercer for his talk, ‘Why oracy skills are vital to children’s development’.
Prev Next

Help give more young people the speaking and listening skills and cross-cultural understanding they need to thrive

Donate

Volunteer

Become a member

Support our work


Registered charity number: 273136

Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street, London W1J 5ED. Tel. 020 7529 1550

© 2025 English-Speaking Union. All rights reserved.

Share Page
Cookies
We serve cookies. If you think that's OK, just click "Accept all". You can also choose what kind of cookies you want by clicking "Settings".
Settings Accept all
Cookies
Choose what kind of cookies to accept. Your choice will be saved for one year.
Save Accept all