Winners of the Oracy Cup, delivered in partnership by Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) and Equalitas, enjoyed a range of memorable Charlton experiences last week as part of their prizes for this year’s inaugural competition.
The Oracy Cup gave pupils aged 9-15 from primary and secondary schools across Greenwich, Bexley and Kent the opportunity to submit audio entries featuring a spoken piece on a topic of their choice, with the task designed to develop confidence, communication and teamwork through speaking and listening. After working on and refining their ideas in the classroom, more than 220 submissions were received from over 50 schools.
Following a judging process earlier this month at The Valley, a number of standout pupils were selected to receive exclusive Charlton-themed experiences. The nominations were assessed by a panel of CACT, club and Equalitas staff, along with expert insight on sports commentary from Charlotte Richardson and Dickie Davis.
First-place winners enjoyed a special matchday experience on Saturday, joining the club’s communications team in the press box for the game against Norwich City, as well as attending manager Nathan Jones' post-match press conference. Meanwhile, second-place winners were invited to the club’s training ground, where they too met Jones, alongside forward Miles Leaburn, and had the opportunity to ask questions alongside the communications team in a unique press conference setting ahead of the match.
Third-place winners were treated to a behind-the-scenes CharltonTV production day at The Valley. After a tour of the stadium, they met presenter Charlotte Richardson, who was joined by women’s team players Carla Humphrey and Elisha N’Dow, as well as manager Karen Hills, offering a memorable insight into the world of sports media and broadcasting.
Across the three prize categories, 18 pupils from a range of participating schools were rewarded for their efforts, reflecting the high standard of entries received this year.
David James, CACT’s Director of Education and Sport, said: “The response from schools across south-east London and Kent was hugely positive, as were the high-quality entries from young people. We’ve been enthused by the appetite to focus on oracy and the expertise of Equalitas, along with the unique Charlton experiences, ensured that the competition was a huge success”.
Robyn Johnstone, CEO of Equalitas, said: “It has been fantastic to see so many schools take part in this year’s Oracy Cup, with over 220 entries showcasing real creativity and confidence. We’re passionate about supporting schools to embed oracy in everyday learning, and this competition shows just how impactful that can be - especially when combined with the unique opportunities and inspiration provided through Charlton. We hope to welcome even more schools next year to be part of something that truly makes a difference to young people’s lives.”
View a gallery from last week’s prize experiences below.
