Glasgow pupil reaches final of national joke contest
Hedi Hemin, a primary four pupil at Knightswood Primary School, was crowned the winner of Glasgow City's regional heat in the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists' (RCSLT) VoiceBox competition.
The national contest is designed to celebrate the power of communication through humour.
Read more: Glasgow ranked as second funniest city in UK
Hedi's winning joke has earned them a spot in the grand final at the Scottish Parliament on June 5, where 32 of Scotland's funniest primary school pupils will compete for the title of VoiceBox Champion 2025.
The event is set to be hosted by the Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, with BBC journalist and stand-up comedian, Zara Janjua, as compère.
VoiceBox, now in its second year, launched on Blue Monday, the so-called "saddest day of the year", bringing a different energy to the day.
Since then, schools across Scotland have been submitting their funniest entries in a testament to confidence, creativity, and communication.
Read more: Calling all Glaswegians — Lidl wants your voice at its self-checkouts
Hedi has already secured £100 worth of Collins Big Cat books for their school and is now in the running for the top prizes, which include £500 of books for the winning school, £200 of books for second and third place, and a £100 toy gift card for the top three finalists.
Glenn Carter, head of RCSLT Scotland, said: "We're incredibly proud of all the regional winners who've earned a place in the national final.
"VoiceBox is about much more than making people laugh.
"It's about highlighting the vital role that communication plays in every part of a child's life.
"Speech, language, and communication skills are the foundation for learning, social connection, mental wellbeing, and future employment.
"Yet too many children still struggle without the support they need, often going unnoticed.
"Competitions like VoiceBox show just how powerful a child's voice can be when given a platform and why it's so important that we continue to invest in speech and language therapy to support children's communication.
"These children aren't just telling jokes.
"They're showing us how the ability to communicate can positively impact confidence, creativity, and connection."
Lizzi Jones, head of sales and marketing for HarperCollins Scotland, said: "Supporting VoiceBox allows us to champion children's literacy and communication, all through the simple joy of telling a joke.
"We can't wait to hear all the jokes at Holyrood."
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