People Say

Schools Say:

• ''Stand Out is a unique enrichment project. It offers an extension activity that I am not specialised in and provides enrichment to our students with ‘specialist professionals’. The course definitely raised self-confidence, which was my overriding aim. Very well organised with the minimum addition to my workload, for which I am always grateful!''
• Head of Drama South Wirral High School
• ''I think Stand Out is an excellent concept that can be used with students of all abilities. It provided a new skill for staff and students and offered the opportunity to learn together... the course introduced a sense of fun and encouraged 'risk taking', students developed as independent thinkers.''
• Head of Drama West Kirby Grammar School for Girls
• ''The Improvisation course encouraged the social, emotional, educational and personal development of the students in a fun and challenging way.''
• Youth Engagement Worker River Alt Resource Centre, North Huyton
• ''An excellent programme which surpassed my expectations. It provided a good start to the two-year work related learning course. The students have been given the confidence to believe that they can achieve. They are now prepared to participate in class discussions as they realise the have something worthwhile to contribute. It has raised aspirations – most of the students are looking at a wider variety of courses to follow post-16, or careers.''
• Deputy Head Teacher Formby High School, Merseyside
• ''Stand Out is a unique enrichment project. It offers an extension activity that I am not specialised in and provides enrichment to our students with ‘specialist professionals’. The course definitely raised self-confidence, which was my overriding aim. Very well organised with the minimum addition to my workload, for which I am always grateful.''
• Head of Drama South Wirral High School
• ''The communication and public speaking skills that this group of young people have learned as part of this course would seem to be well suited for the kind of world that they will eventually seek to find work in
• External Evaluator for Stand Out
• ''The tutors connected very early with the group. They got them laughing and made the whole session funny and interesting. The pace is very quick and engages the pupils.''
• Teacher at St Julie's High School

• Young People Say:

• ''I loved every aspect of the Stand Out course. I loved the opportunity to gain skills and entertain people on stage.''
• Student from Whitby High, Ellesmere Port
• ''It was brilliant. When I left the first session, I was telling everyone about it. I just wanted to come back and get up on stage again.''
• Student at Croxteth Comprehensive School, Liverpool
• ''The whole experience of Stand Out was amazing. The friendliness of both tutors and the support we received when writing our material was very helpful. The encouragement we got pushed us to achieve our full potential.''
• Student at South Wirral High School, Eastham
• ''Stand Out has been one of the most fun and productive thing I've done in
• a long time, even if you don't want to be a comic then the confidence building effect it has is still great. Personally stand out allowed me to think about what I wanted to do with myself and opened a new door for me. So to round up why be part of stand out? Fun, new skills, great people, prizes and a chance at making it big. So why not? It's better than Pop Idol.''
• Matt Challenor, Stand Out Winner 2002

• Funny Business Participants Say:

• ''I thought it was brilliant and thoroughly enjoyed the experience... persuaded to go along to see how it went, I then got hooked! Thanks again for a brilliant experience.''
• Nici Gelder of Silverbeck Rymer
• ''I thought the organisation of the course was excellent. It was crucial to have those couple of hours before the event at the venue. It’s much harder to use a microphone than it appears!''
• Christian Evans of Gregory Abrams Solicitors
• ''Excellent, the materials and presentation was superb.''
• Paul Scott-Griffiths of DWF
• I thoroughly enjoyed last year’s course, so much so that I have stuck at it and have now performed at both the Rawhide Comedy Club and the Laughterhouse and have also taken part in national competitions.''
• Anthony O’Neil of Halifax
• Funny Business has inspired me to invest more time in myself and to take up the pursuit of something creative again.''
• Nia Valerio of Sefton Council
• ''I attended the Funny Business Open course in June 2006, not sure exactly how it would help me. My business centres around training and personal development and therefore thought this may be an excellent personal challenge. I found the course very engaging, great fun and a real challenge to compile my own script and deliver in front of more than 200 people! It was a real confident boost and I felt a real sense of achievement having delivered my set, earning some laughs along the way! Nothing will ever feel scary again! Thanks very much!''
• Rachel Watson of The Well-Being Programme
• ''This course has had an immediate positive impact on myself and my team. It has unleashed a confidence that has already made a visible difference with sales and presentation abilities. Apart from anything else it was fantastic fun. An exciting, nerve jangling, experience we will never forget.''
• Brian Adams from PH Creative
• ''It's a brilliant way to bring your colleagues together and get to know their other side (on a personal level). The workshop is definitely recommended and loads of fun! ''
• Participant, Comedy Workshop for Barclays Bank
• ''I can definitely use some of the techniques in my working life.''
• Participant, Comedy Workshop for Barclays Bank

• The Press Say

• ''A unique stand up comedy training scheme.''
• THE GUARDIAN
• THE OBSERVER
• ''The city has rediscovered its funny bone, churning out some of the
• country’s best new comedian.
• THE OBSERVER
• ''A trailblazing course.''
• DAILY POST
• For more Information please contact us on 0870 443 0955 or email
• info@thecomedytrust.com