Local Pupils Star As Voice Box Finalists

Local pupils reached the final of the Voice Box Awards on Monday to impress the judges with an animated account of their favourite jokes.

Erin Donaghey from St Macartan’s Primary School in Loughinisland, Leah McCarthy from St Patrick’s from Ballygalget and Ethan Stevenson from Cedar Integrated Primary School were among the finalists. Erin gave a lively rendition of her favourite joke.

Who has green hair and likes to eat porridge?

Mouldi-locks!!

Twenty budding comedians were shortlisted for the grand final of the Voice Box Awards at Belfast City Hall to raise awareness of the importance of good communication skills.

The Voice Box Awards is a school joke-telling contest run by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) to highlight the crucial role that speech and language development plays in school life, in a fun and engaging way.

Approximately seven per cent of children in Northern Ireland (or two children in every class of thirty) start school with a developmental language disorder, and a further 2.34% of children start school with a language disorder linked to or co-occurring with another condition such as learning disability, cerebral palsy, and autism spectrum disorder. In areas of social deprivation, speech and language difficulties can occur in above 50% of children.

Over 3,500 competitors, many of whom have never needed a speech and language therapist, have already participated in local heats. The 20 funniest pupils were selected to compete in the live grand final on Monday 5 June 2017.

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Nuala McAllister said: “It was great to hear the best jokes that the pupils have to offer. It’s a privilege to host this prestigious event at Belfast City Hall because good communication skills are such a fundamental aspect of a councillor’s role in public life.

“As I embark on my year as Lord Mayor of Belfast, I want to ensure that our city is inclusive to all, including those with a communication disability. As councillors we have a responsibility to ensure we foster communities which are accessible to all our citizens and this includes providing inclusive communication environments.”

Alison McCullough MBE, Head of RCLST Northern Ireland Office said:“This is the fifth Voice Box final, and each year we have been delighted as the numbers of schools, families and speech and language therapists, getting involved, has increased. This event provides an exciting opportunity to engage with elected representatives and promote the importance of speech and language activities within school.

“We are also working with politicians, policy makers and other partners to make society more aware of the impact that a communication difficulty can make to educational attainment, employment and mental health and wellbeing.”

Finalists were chosen from primary and post primary schools from across Northern Ireland.

Ella Mack from Ballymoney Model (P2) won the Primary category with her Elsa joke:

Why is Elsa not allowed to hold a balloon? 

Because she will let it gooooooooo!

Emily Fryers from Tor Bank School won the Post-Primary award for her joke:

.Why do the French eat snails?  They don’t like fast food!

To win the top prize, Odhran had to impress the Voice Box panel of judges, Anne Gamble, Country representative RCSLT; June Wilkinson, Head of Children and Young People’s Strategy Team, Department of Education; and St Mary’s college pupil Molly Bradley, who has a cochlear implant.

Learn more about the speech and language therapy profession by visiting:

www.rcslt.org