Ipswich Speakers Club

World Speech Day is on 15th March.

Is it time to do something for yourself? If you needed a reason here it is!

Our next meeting is on 13th March. We're here to help to improve your skills as a Speaker, Presenter and Leader.

Just like World Speech Day, we're also a not-for-profit with the aim to help our members in becoming better Speakers.

Just come and introduce yourself, that will count as your start. Our members say that walking in the door was the most difficult bit. After that, they see that we are all learning, making mistakes, having a laugh and gaining experience as we go.

Message, or find us on East Anglia Speakers Clubs east-speakers website. Guests are welcome, feel free to bring someone with you.

The best evenings are when you forget to take the photos once it's got going! Thursday was our Club Debate Night, and it was definitely one of those.

🌟4 prepared debate speeches!
– Including our newest member
🌟'Speech construction' assignment beautifully delivered
🌟4+ Impromptu, 2 min speeches
– Including a story well told from our guest
🌟Evaluations of supportive feedback
🌟Our Chair for the evening ably managed 4+ person changes for the night. Demonstrating leadership – experience, ability to make decisions and experience to cope with change.

Leadership experience is sometimes hidden, but usually the biggest benefit of joining a Speakers Club.

Speakers clubs aren't just about speeches or debates, you could be practicing for a work presentation or a wedding speech. We're here to support with all these things.

What a night! It was brilliantly fun as always. Plus, so much having a go, learning and personal development to be seen.

We meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month, guests are welcome. Stepping through the door is the hardest bit. We're there with you after that...!

It's a great time to start a new focus. As I'm continuing to learn, I've been lucky to have been given some great advice. Here's some I've received from our more experience club members on 'Making a Start', the first speech that we all make, in our learning.

Choose a method of constructing it that works for you
– it could be collecting ideas on small cards, over a few weeks, rearranging them on a table. Then selecting and building a narrative (there's probably material there for your next speech too).
– creating a mind map. Using Colour and symbols. It can help you to memorise the key points. Avoiding reciting a script, and practicing talking through themes is more similar to how many of us need to present at work.

Speak about something that you know well.
– We're learning the skills of speaking and presenting, so the subject matter is merely the means. So choosing a subject that you're confident with will help here. Our members know that we often make up the content, it doesn't matter and can certainly make the evening more fun for the audience!

5 or 6 minutes is enough. Just enough for your evaluator to comment on what you already do well – you may be completely unaware of this. Plus, enough for them to give you helpful advice for your next speech.

Hope this is helpful if you're putting together a presentation, or if you're thinking about joining us. Guests are welcome to join us (free). On 9 January our theme is 'Chairing Meetings' – see you there! Rachel, Club member. https://fb.me/e/5FUeGhtD5

What an amazingly packed, fun filled evening we had! Thursday was our first evening back and we all learnt so much too!

It's still a great time to try it out! Our programme focuses on each of the skills needed to be a better speaker, presenter and leader.

Join us on Thurs 26th for our evening on the theme 'Being Persuasive'. Beginners welcome, first evenings free. £40/yr.

There's never a better time to give it a go! We're ready to welcome you as a beginner, to support your gained experience, towards feel more confident.

From Rachel (Club member): After being a member of Ipswich Speakers Club for only a year. I've gained the confidence to be interviewed on BBC Radio Norfolk today about our new Norwich Central Speakers Club, and on what a Speakers Club is.

📻 Recording linked in the comments.

Being a member of The Association of Speakers Clubs has given me the confidence to:

🎙 Talk on county radio. 6 months ago I wouldn’t have dared to enter a radio competition!
♣ Start a club –I’d not have imagined I would start any kind of club before
👩‍💼 Present to groups of people without losing too much sleep (I'm getting there!)

For most members, it’s just about gaining confidence for their everyday lives, rather than speaking to big crowds. Most people join us feeling very nervous about speaking to a group. Our clubs are friendly and supportive spaces to learn speaking skills, step by step, with the guidance of speakers with many years of experience. People who stay as members, to help others to develop their confidence.

I had a great time meeting you Kayleigh and Ben, and so I completely forgot to take photos! 🤦‍♀️