A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy with hearing loss won a speaking competition after he addressed members of the Houses of Parliament about what deaf children can achieve.

Charlie Denton, from Stonehouse, who was diagnosed with hearing loss as a baby and given cochlear implants at the age of three, came home with a beautiful glass trophy, a £20 Amazon voucher and a very big smile.

He was one of nine children aged between five and 16 from across the UK who were chosen to speak at an event called The Power of Speech hosted by Stroud MP Neil Carmichael, who is deaf in his left ear.

Speaking after the event Charlie’s mum Emma said: “I could feel Charlie tensing up next to me as he waited to deliver his speech.

“Afterwards, he told me that he could feel his hand and legs shaking but he felt proud that his voice stayed strong.

“As he took to the microphone, an ITV west crew arrived to film his speech but Charlie seemed to take it all in his stride.”

During the competition each of the young people took to the stage for three minutes to present short speeches challenging the common perceptions around what deaf children can achieve on topics of their choice.

Charlie, who had chosen to talk about his love for tennis, was named the winner of his age category nine -11.

He is involved in the Great Britain tennis squad and attends their training camps which his mum said is a ‘great outlet for him.’

“It was wonderful seeing how confident and passionate all the children were and inspiring to see that they really were challenging perceptions of what deaf children can achieve,” said Emma, a cellist.

The event opened with some speeches from the guest speakers including Neil Carmichael who talked about his experience of deafness.

He talked about how deaf children should be able to be and do what they want in life and to be given the tools and opportunities to achieve that.

Charlie and his seven-year-old sister Daisy both go to Eastington Primary School. His dad Matthew is a violinist.