Judges needed for debating equivalent of X Factor

WORD-WAR judges are needed for the intellectual equivalent of The X Factor '“ a national debating contest run by Concern Worldwide.
Adjudicators in Lecture Theatre at Concern Debates semi-final at King's Inns April 29, 2016.Adjudicators in Lecture Theatre at Concern Debates semi-final at King's Inns April 29, 2016.
Adjudicators in Lecture Theatre at Concern Debates semi-final at King's Inns April 29, 2016.

Ireland’s largest humanitarian aid agency is recruiting volunteers to join their panel of adjudicators for Concern Debates, the country’s biggest secondary schools debating contest. The charity said teenage debating teams go head-to-head on highly relevant and topical arguments such as the war in Syria, Brexit, climate change and refugees.

Each year around 150 schools take part with the final held in The Helix in Dublin. The winning team is taken to one of Concern’s projects overseas, such as drought-hit Malawi, where last year’s winners, Cross and Passion College from Ballycastle, witnessed first-hand the charity’s life changing work. Concern’s Schools and Youth Programme Administrator, Geraldine Carroll, said: “We are looking for people from all walks of life to volunteer as adjudicators for these debates.”

Anyone who wants to volunteer contact Concern’s Schools and Youth Programme Administrator Geraldine Carroll at 01 417 7733 or by email [email protected].

Concern trains all its new volunteer judges in September and October before the competition begins.