Since last autumn, hundreds of children have taken part in Voice Box – the joke-telling competition for schools in England, Scotland and Wales. Twenty made it through to the final at Speaker’s House, Westminster in London on 29 March. One of them, local schoolboy Jack Royall from Westlands, Newcastle-under-Lyme, walked away with a runner-up prize.
Jack, age 10, who attends St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Trent Vale in Stoke-on-Trent, delighted the packed audience of politicians, parents and children with his joke:
A man walks into a library and asks: "Can I have some fish and chips please?"
… "No!" The librarian replied. "This is a library!"
… "Oh sorry," the man said. Whispering quietly he added: "Fish and chips please."
Jack, who walked away with one of just two runner-up prizes – national book tokens worth £50 – said: “I am very excited to be part of the Voice Box competition. What an opportunity to go to Mr Speaker’s House in Westminster and represent my school!”
When asked what he would like to be when he grows up, Jack replied: “I am hoping to become an architect.”
Jack was joined at the final by another pupil from Staffordshire – Christopher Everitt, age 12, from Castlefields, Stafford. Christopher, who attends Norton Canes High School in Cannock, Staffordshire, also got a big laugh when he told his joke to the audience at Westminster:
Why was the student's report card wet?
... Because it was below C level.
Christopher, who was presented with a Voice Box finalist certificate, has Asperger syndrome and rated getting to the final as one of his proudest moments. He said he had been “a little bit nervous” about standing up and saying his joke but was “also really quite excited.”
When asked what he would like to be when he grows up, Christopher replied: “I want to be a vet, better than Supervet. I want to revolutionise veterinary practice.”
Voice Box is an annual competition, organised by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and partnered by The Communication Trust. It aims to remind people that there are children in every classroom who need support to help them speak and understand what is being said to them.
Nearly 20% of the population may experience communication difficulties at some point in their lives.
Seven per cent of children aged about five years have specific speech and language impairment and a further 1.8% have speech, language and communication needs linked to other conditions, such as learning disability, cerebral palsy, and autism spectrum disorders.
John Bercow, Speaker of The House of Commons, said: “I am delighted to be able to host this wonderful event for the third year running. It is extremely important that children with speech, language and communication needs receive the support they require to reach their potential.”
Amanda Milling, MP for Cannock Chase, who attended the event, added: “I am very pleased to support Christopher Everitt from Norton Canes High School at Voice Box. The event has demonstrated how communication skills help children to have the best start in life. Public speaking is a part of my daily life and as such I fully appreciate the work teachers and speech and language therapists do to help children to communicate as well as possible.
“A huge congratulations to Christopher on this fantastic achievement.”
RCSLT Chief Executive Officer Kamini Gadhok MBE said: “Speech, language and communication difficulties are the most common type of special education need in 4 – 11 year-old children. However, with the right help and support, children can improve their social skills, peer relationships and self-confidence, and access education which is vital to improving their life chances.”