Find your voice.
Build your confidence.

Ilkley's speaking club for real life.

Ilkley Speakers is a new Toastmasters International club forming in Ilkley, Yorkshire. Whether you want to speak with more confidence, lead more effectively, or simply find your voice — you have come to the right place.

Register your interest Find out more
About

What is Toastmasters International?

Founded in 1924 and active in over 140 countries, Toastmasters is the world's leading organisation for developing public speaking and leadership skills — in a structured, supportive, and genuinely enjoyable environment.

Hear from a member

Public speaking

Find your voice at your own pace

Practise prepared and impromptu speeches in a safe, encouraging space. Every member progresses through a structured educational programme at a pace that suits them.

Leadership

Lead with confidence

Club roles, meeting facilitation, and mentoring others develop the kind of practical leadership that matters in the workplace and in everyday life — not just theory.

Community

Grow with great people

Ilkley Speakers brings together people from all walks of life, united by a single goal: to communicate better. The friendships formed at Toastmasters last a lifetime.

At a meeting

What actually happens?

Every meeting follows a familiar, member-led format. Here is the shape of a typical evening — and why most people leave wishing they had come sooner.

01

Prepared speeches

Members deliver 5–7 minute speeches prepared in advance, working through a structured programme. Each speech builds on the last.

02

Table Topics

Impromptu speaking: given a question or prompt, you have 1–2 minutes to respond. One of the most fun and most transferable parts of the meeting.

03

Evaluations

Every speech receives a structured, encouraging evaluation. Specific feedback means every speaker leaves with something concrete and actionable.

04

Come as a guest

Your first visit is free and there is absolutely no pressure to speak. Just come along, watch, and see if Ilkley Speakers is the right fit for you.

Now forming

Be a founding member

Ilkley Speakers is currently forming as an aspiring Toastmasters club. We need 20 founding members to become an officially chartered club. This is a rare chance to shape a club from the very beginning — its culture, its character, its community.

Register your interest
John Thompson, founder of Ilkley Speakers
A note from our founder

Why I started Ilkley Speakers

I have been a member of Toastmasters clubs in London, Hull and Maidstone, and the confidence it built — in presentations, in meetings, in everyday conversations — has been genuinely transformative. When I moved to the area and looked for a local club, there wasn't one. Starting one felt like the natural thing to do.

I know from experience that walking through the door for the first time takes courage. I also know that most people leave that first meeting wishing they had come sooner. If you are curious, I would love for you to come along and see for yourself.

— John Thompson, Founder

Meetings

When & where

We are finalising the details of our first meetings. Register your interest and you will be the first to know.

Location

Meetings will be held in Ilkley, West Yorkshire. The exact venue will be confirmed with all registered guests ahead of our first meeting.

Frequency

Meetings are held twice a month. Dates and times will be announced soon — register your interest to receive details as soon as they are confirmed.

Guests always welcome

Your first visit is completely free, with no obligation to join or speak. As a not-for-profit club, we expect membership to cost in the region of £25 per month — in line with similar clubs across Yorkshire — though final fees will depend on venue costs. Just come along and see if it is for you.

Get in touch

Ready to find your voice?

Send us a message to register your interest, ask a question, or simply find out more. We reply to every message.


hello@ilkleyspeakers.co.uk