Learn from a programme developed over decades and kept up-to-date by the input of around 150 clubs dedicated to its development.

Invest a few evenings each year and the return will be astounding.

Meet some great people who are just like you and who are just as interesting with a variety of points of view.

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Welcome to the Camden Town Speakers Club

You live and work in one of the world's greatest cities. London is a cosmopolitan mix of dynamic people and ideas.Camden Speakers Club has been designed with this in mind. The members expect high standards. They are here with a purpose. They want to be successful. They want help in a way that suits them. We understand this and have put in place the necessary resources to ensure that you get the best headstart.

Expect a massive positive impact on your life.

Profile of members

We aim to be a very dynamic and progressive club. You may be young, you may be old, or you may be somewhere in between. We welcome members of any age, any origin. The more diverse the better. ASC members come from all backgrounds.

The Association of Speakers Club (ASC)

We are a member of The Association of Speakers Clubs (ASC), which is the largest public speaking organisation in the UK. The ASC is being transformed, is growing and has very ambitious plans. We fully support its aims and purpose. Explore its website.

History of the club

Camden Speakers Club was founded in January 2008 by Debra Owen Hughes, a longstanding member of the Association of Speakers Clubs, who had already set up three clubs in the London area.

With initial help from members of Wimbledon Speakers Club and a hardworking committee, the club soon established itself as a dynamic, vibrant, innovative group attracting diverse and enthusiastic members from all backgrounds, professions and backgrounds.

Meetings included education sessions, innovative debating sessions and a colourful social life – including summer outings to Hampstead Heath, which became a Camden tradition.

In July 2009, Debra handed over the Presidency to Laura Nelson, who had been Vice-President for a year. A fellow committee member, Sean Birch, went on to become President of City Speakers Club.

Laura formed a new committee with fresh energy, ideas and enthusiasm. In November 2009, Camden founded an external event series open to all, bringing public speaking and leadership expertise to a discussion forum outside of regular club meetings. The first event with Phil Collins, the former speechwriter for Tony Blair, attracted an audience of 100. This was followed by an event with guest speaker Dr Evan Harris, former Lib Dem MP, who demonstrated the art of persuasion in a series of mini-debates on current affairs topics with the audience.

Camden catapulted to top of the league in April 2010, winning the Ace of Clubs prize from the Association of Speakers Clubs, beating 19 other clubs to be awarded the best speaking club in the South-East. At the same time, Laura won the Moscow prize for her personal contribution to the club and association.

The biggest, most ambitious event yet took place in November 2010. In partnership with the organisation Progressive Women, which aims to support women through discussion and networking events for women interested in politics and the economy, Camden organised the Inspiring Leaders event – a whole day of leadership training and discussions, headlined by Fiona Mactaggart MP, Shadow Junior Minister for Equality.

2010 was also the year that Camden held its Christmas party (with plenty of public speaking) in the Lord Palmerston pub, just off Hampstead Heath, the start of what will no doubt be a long tradition.

In 2011, Laura is taking the club into its fourth year with a new committee with new ideas, drive and commitment. There was an enthusiastic participation of members in the London Area contest in the spring, and a diverse range of activities for members in meetings throughout the year, such as practising sales pitches, educational sessions on chairing and evaluating, and politician-style debates.

In Autumn 2011, the club launches a new mentoring scheme , so that new members can benefit from and learn from more experienced members and receive extra constructive feedback, support and encouragement on their steps to becoming great public speakers.