VOX POPULI EDUCATIONAL CIC
VOX POPULI EDUCATIONAL CIC
"The inability to speak fluently is one of the biggest barriers to opportunity" Keir Starmer
We set ten goals for oracy, each built around a skill that can be taught.
PRESENTING & PITCHING
From classroom to lecture hall to boardroom, presenting ideas clearly and engagingly is a key tool for success.
'Oracy' is a new word for an old skill: Homer's Iliad was performed using the same techniques the storytellers of Marrakesh and griots of West Africa still use today. It's the language of heroes, poets, rappers, prophets and politicians like Obama (who's recently acknowledged his debt to Eminem). The same combination of clarity and showmanship made Steve Jobs' keynote addresses at Apple such a hot ticket (he had to learn how to do it too.)
Our aim is that every student leaves every workshop with new skills they can use immediately in the classroom, and which will stay with them for life.
CREATIVITY & ENGAGEMENT
We operate a unique system based on psychologists' concept of the mind, incorporating techniques used by writers and performers for millennia. We begin by isolating and harnassing the Id, the fount of creativity: messy, disorganised and silly, using fun, playful exercises that help build confidence.
Next comes ordering and editing - essentially storytelling - skills we draw from our journalism and theatre backgrounds. Finally the super-ego, the mind's policemen is harnassed to perfect and polish ideas and ensure students achieve their aims: Hemmingway had over 42 different endings for 'Farewell to Arms' - he obsessed with finding the right one. Students need to be 'creative perfectionists' too.
SELLING YOURSELF
One of the key skills for success in life is the ability to sell yourself: from writing CVs to job and university interviews (and even first dates!) What we teach as personal politics at MA and CEO level.
There is no 'one size fits all' solution: we encourage students to find and develop their natural style which leads to new-found confidence. Lady Gaga and Elton John both started out as shy introverts.
We aso look at conflict resolution and empathy building, based on Neuro-linguistic Programming and Quaker negotiation protocols used internationally to end wars, from the American War of Independence to the ongoing conflict in Kashmir. It works in kitchens, boardrooms - and school playgrounds.
EMPOWERMENT
We teach skills, not theory. Breaking down daunting tasks and learning them in a fun and non-threatening environment gives students the resources to operate in an unequal society. Employers and universities are making huge efforts to operate a level playing field, but often complain of applicants' lack of communication and interpersonal skills. We have a large arsenal of proven tips and tricks to enable students to cope with any situation with aplomb, in the workplace and in their personal lives.
We believe today's multicultural Britain has a wealth of undiscovered talent waiting to be tapped: a national genius that brought forth the Beatles, balti, soccer, the internet, and Shakespeare.
Vox Populi Educational CIC is a not-for-profit community interest company providing oracy and creativity tools to schools and universities.
We run classes that provide a range of tools and skills that can be used immediately, and integrated into the learning environment. These can be short intensive workshops, or can integrate into a weekly or bi-weekly timetable slot, We also do one-to-one coaching, mentoring and online sessions, specialising in empowering those from less advantaged backgrounds, and women in male dominated environments.
A key part of our ethos is to analyse and encourage students' individual style and abilities: we believe authenticity enables success.
There are many types of speaker, including very nervous ones, visual or auditory led, soft and hard styles, raconteurs and geeks - each with life experiences that add veracity to their communications. Identifying what you do well, and what you want to improve, is the start of every journey.
Public speaking and writing belong to a shared tradition, one being fast eroded by technology. In an AI dominated future where everyone can be good, harnessing your individuality is the way to stand out.
"I just want to say thank you for your lessons. I think I didn’t realise how important all the transferable skills you were teaching, until I was put in a position where they all came into play. Your classes were the classes I wasn’t sure I needed - it turns out they were the most valuable lessons at SOAS." [HZ]
"Your (CV) analysis was awesome and very thorough. was initially afraid to open it as I feared getting roasted but that was not the case really thank you for the positive supportive suggestions/critiques." [VH]
"I used some of the tough-interview techniques in an interview for a Civil Service internship and got an offer! Your teaching over the course was hugely valuable! " [AW]
"I often think back to the wonderful sessions you ran .. they definitely helped prepare me for what was to come, and I thought of you both every time I went to the BBC to film / record for radio " [SB - Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year]
"I really enjoyed the Tough Job Interview session - in fact this whole course has been fantastic.....more than I could have ever hoped for!" [V A-S]
" A great set of workshops that have really helped me, but also go a long way in distinguishing the course against other universities." [AR]
CEO & Founder
Simon studied stage direction at Theatr Clwyd, politics at Cambridge, medicine at Oxford then worked as a medical researcher before joining the BBC as a trainee. He worked in departments as diverse as the Natural History Unit, Religion and Light Entertainment ending up as News Output Editor for BBC World TV, training a generation of presenters, reporters and journalists. He's lectured in journalism at Goldsmiths and taught diplomacy at SOAS, founding Vox Populi in 2007. The company has worked with over 2000 clients: charities, schools, universities, campaign and political groups as well as tech startups.
Neuro-linguistics, narrative, performance
Julia studied law at King’s College London, before qualifying and working as a teacher. She went on to train as an actress, appearing in many lead roles for the next 15 years, including the BBC's 'Round the Horne', while simultaneously running creative communication workshops on senior executive and masters' programmes at London Business School, Oxford and SOAS universities, amongst others. She has over 25 years’ experience of working with clients from the banking, legal, communications and leisure industries..
Broadcast consultant, presentation skills trainer
Martine is an international journalist and has been presenting on the BBC News Channel since 2000, interviewing world leaders and covering top stories such as the Paris bombings and the death of the Duke of Edinburgh. She studied Geography at the University of Leeds and worked at local news outlets, such as BBC Radio Leicester and Newsroom Southeast, before becoming the face of BBC World TV's Asia/US News. In 2022 she won the BBC's celebrity Mastermind contest. Martine is a campaigner for women's issues within the BBC, working with the National Union of Journalists to achieve pay parity for male and female News staff .
Speech, narrative, performance
Karen read classics at Cambridge and trained as an actor at Mountview Academy. She leads workshops in influencing and public speaking for Executive Education at Saïd Business School, Oxford University. She is a Consultant at the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at Bayes Business School, and with Vox Populi's schools programme. Her diverse range of clients include the International Rescue Committee, Fluor, TuneIn Radio, Flag Communications and the Royal Academy of Engineering. She specialises in female empowerment.
Broadcast: radio lead, interviewing, journalism
Lawrence is a well-known international broadcaster. For millions of listeners he was the voice of the BBC World Service's morning news show and has interviewed presidents, politicians, poets as well as normal people caught up in the maelstrom of the news agenda from Ougadougou to Las Vegas. He read English at Oxford and was for many years the BBC's culture correspondent, working in China, Africa and around Europe. He has taught at London's School of Oriental and African Studies as well as with Vox Populi's schools programme