Debating London - The Great Debaters Club

Project aim

To raise the standard of public debate through an annual programme of events, talks, and training workshops in public speaking, critical thinking, and adjudication.

About Debating London

Debating London is the debate club for adults where ordinary Londoners come together to share their opinions on the biggest issues of the day. Firm in our belief that free speech should be exactly that, we have been hosting free public debates in central London since 2009. Our speakers are not the celebrity talking heads we are used to seeing on television, but teachers, playwrights, engineers, and nurses, alongside bankers, civil servants, publicists - and yes lawyers too. 

We are united by our belief that open debate is the best way to resolve differences of opinion, promote public participation, and make important decisions. We do this by providing a platform for people to express and challenge each other's opinions in front of a live audience. Most importantly, we believe that debate can only be constructive when speakers give as much consideration to their opponents perspectives as their own. We therefore actively encourage our members to defend opinions with which they themselves passionately disagree.  

About the Great Debaters Club

Debating is the combination of three key life skills: public speaking, critical thinking, and adjudication. Its value is well recognised in schools across the country that place a premium on their participation in national competitions. However, adults who never had the opportunity or inclination to take part when they were students have nowhere to go. Yet the importance of such skills in the modern workplace, from delivering presentations to planning policies and resolving disputes, has arguably never been more important than in today's highly interconnected world.

Membership of the Great Debaters Club will therefore feature an annual programme of events, talks, and training workshops - IN ADDITION to our free public debates - in return for a monthly £10 subscription fee with concessions available for students, pensioners, and the unemployed. 

The benefits of membership

• Free entry to all debates and large discounts on debate training workshops.
• A 12 month programme of practice debates so members can build their confidence over time and chart their progress.  
• A free training manual explaining the principles of debating, a summary of all the techniques you will learn in each workshop, and their practical applications.  
• Special offers such as discounts to debates organised by partner organisations and free entry to live televised debate shows.
• An annual members Christmas dinner featuring a 'show' debate between the club's leading trainers and a team of guest speakers. 

Next steps

The club will need at least 50 paying members to be financially viable. So, we are offering half price membership for the rest of this year to the first 100 people to sign up, who will be our founder members. This means that for a one off payment of £40, you will become a full member of the Great Debaters Club with access to full range of benefits starting this May. The beauty of crowdfunding means that your investment is risk free because if we fail to hit our target, then your money will be returned to you in full.