Communication Workshops for hire

Our Team

Talk The Talk firmly believe that oracy is the foundation of literacy

Our Team

Mark Farmer
Director

Mark is Director of Talk The Talk and has been with the charity since 2016. He has twenty years’ experience in business, logistics and event management. Mark also supports schools across England and Wales with their Talk The Talk programmes as well as developing relationships with funding partners.

Richard Edkins
Schools Liaison Director

Richard has worked in the education sector since 2009; both within UK schools as a science teacher and for an international education company and UK awarding body. Richard supports schools, multi-academy trusts and non-school partners with their Talk The Talk programmes, as well as driving the charity’s fundraising strategy.

June Horton
Administrator

June manages all our bookings, trainers and finances for Talk The Talk. Prior to working with us, she has worked within administration and human resources for Marie Curie Cancer Care, English Churches Housing Group and Merit Direct.

Sally Rhydderch
Programme Administrator

Sally manages the programme bookings for Talk The Talk. Having spent much of her later childhood abroad, she has remained in Herefordshire since returning and has experience of working in the areas of HR, Event Management and Marketing. Before joining Talk The Talk, Sally worked for a leadership development company, The Leadership Trust and also Wyvern Business Systems.

Chloe Hayman
School Liaison Advisor

Chloe manages our social media pages and liaises with schools before and after the delivery of workshops. Before joining Talk The Talk, Chloe lived and worked in South Wales while completing an MSc in Forensic Psychology and returned to Gloucestershire after graduating in 2022.

Lei Cooper
School Liaison Advisor

Lei liaises with the schools before and after the delivery of the workshops. Before joining the Talk The Talk team, Lei was a school teacher for ten years and worked in customer service before this. Lei lives in the Forest of Dean with her husband, daughter and her dog.

Laura Benjamin
Programme Administrator

Laura manages the programme bookings for Talk The Talk. Laura has recently come back to Herefordshire after spending four years studying at the University of Nottingham. Laura graduated in the summer of 2024 with a degree in Business Management and Accounting and Finance.

Archie McKie
School Support Officer

Archie is a part of the team informing schools of the workshops and funding that Talk The Talk provide. He is instrumental in maintaining our database and other systems. He recently completed sixth form college with three A-Level qualifications, including English Language, which has equipped him with strong communication skills that he leverages in his current role at Talk The Talk.

“Excellent. All stages of the workshop were scaffolded, modelled and therefore accessible. The trainer was excellent at being patient with the students and giving tangible feedback. Students have definitely improved their speaking and confidence after the session.”

 

Year 8, Swanlea School,
London

“The workshop was fantastic and helped the children to become more confident as speakers and huge improvements were seen throughout. The trainer was excellent with the group and provided valuable direct and individualised feedback.”

Year 6, Carrdus School,
Oxfordshire

“Lovely manner with the students, building their confidence and resilience effectively. Students engaged in all activities and a positive learning environment throughout.”

Year 11, Shaftesbury High Special School,
Middlesex

“This Talk The Talk workshop is well designed to give students clearly defined steps for constructing compelling speeches. The trainers were warm and engaging, successfully creating a safe environment where students felt comfortable stepping outside of their comfort zones to practise their public speaking skills.”

Year 10, Channing School,
London

“Excellent! Not enough focus is placed on oracy and communication skills, so it was great for these students to have intensive support with this. The workshop was thoroughly engaging and delivered in such a way that the students really understood the value of it. I am sure this will be of huge benefit to them in the future. Thank you!”

Year 12, Richard Hale School,
Hertfordshire

“The CPD delivered was outstanding. Many teachers felt it was one of the best inset days we’ve had and they feel great motivation as a result of the tips and guidance.”

Staff, Ladybridge High School,
Bolton

“The trainer was excellent with the pupils, very warm and engaging. I really liked that he varied the content depending on the response of the group and was also hugely adaptable with pupils with additional needs.”

Year 7, Royal Grammar School,
Newcastle

“I overheard the students commenting on how good the session was – they became more relaxed and enthusiastic as time went on, engaging really well with the trainer. Excellent!”

Year 12 & 13, St Mary's School Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire