Debating Matters

The group meets monthly to debate interesting, topical, and contentious issues. We want to develop our skills in exploring ideas in an encouraging environment.

The group agrees a topic to discuss and selects a team to speak for and a team to speak against the motion by drawing lots; so you may have to argue from a position you don’t inherently agree with.

The teams have until the following month to research their positions. We do not have a points system, and there is no “win or lose” outcome. Rather, we take turns to speak whilst everyone else listens and respects that person’s point of view. We then debate the points raised, and everyone learns something new.

We currently avoid contentious political and religious topics.

Topics can be anything we want: current affairs, historical matters, local issues in Barnsley etc, nothing is out of scope so long as it is legal and decent.