The thirteenth Youth Speaks Competition was held at the Middleton Hall, Hull University; the university co-sponsors the event with other well-known local and international businesses and patrons.  Roy White, President of RC Humberside was on hand to award the George Daniels Trophy to the best team in the intermediate section.  DG Mohammad Ali presented the Yeadon Trophy to the winning team in the senior competition and the Hornsea Trophy to the best senior speaker.

South Holderness sent two teams for the intermediate competition and were rewarded when their younger team showed amazing public speaking abilities to lift the trophy; their speakers had difficulty in seeing the audience over the lectern and made Roy White look positively tall!

Seven teams competed for the senior event and there were a variety of topics ranging from 'Why we should withdraw from the EU' to 'Has female emancipation led to enslavement of men?' and 'Make do and Mend' for the Credit Crunch;  Climate Change was debated in both competitions and the other subjects were related to their proponents' ages and situations.

The Freeplay Foundation provides Lifeline self-powered radios that need no batteries or electricity to provide daily access to radio school programmes and to provide vital health and life skills information. Through education, children and young people gain the self-esteem and confidence that expands their horizons.

Since 2003 Rotary has been supporting a project in Zambia called Learning At Taonga Market. 5800 Lifeline radios have been distributed helping around 400,000 children to obtain quality primary education.