09 September 2025 •
Local train operator c2c Railway has joined forces with the University of Essex and young women from Southend to celebrate the Essex accent and continue the fight against accent prejudice.
The partnership, launched at Southend Central station on Tuesday, 9 September, is the latest development in research by Dr Tara McAllister-Viel from the University’s East 15 Acting School.
Her study, which featured on The One Show earlier in the year, showed that Essex girls are pressured to change the way they speak because of negative stereotypes.
With acclaimed Essex author and University of Essex Chancellor Dr Sarah Perry as guest of honour, Dr McAllister-Viel and c2c Rail unveiled Accent Essex. The new partnership encourages commuters and residents to listen to pre-recorded poems written by students, from Westcliff High School for Girls, about their accents and how they are perceived.
The audio installation is accessed via a QR code and invites listeners to share one thing they love about their own accent via a dedicated YouTube channel.
Commuters travelling through the station on Tuesday, 9 September were handed leaflets about the project while enjoying spoken word performances by Write2Speak co-founder, Yossi Goodlink and Essex poet and performer Hollie Dee.
They also heard one of the poems, My Voice performed by Canvey Island resident and c2c Customer Delivery Manager, Louise Williams, over the station tannoy.
Rob Mullen, Managing Director of c2c Rail, said:
“Accent prejudice perpetuates harmful Essex stereotypes, negatively impacts confidence and self-esteem and can even be a barrier to education and employment. Bias and prejudice around regional accents persists, impacting people’s lives in countless ways. Dr McAllister-Viel’s research has shone a light on the issue and is helping to change perceptions.
“I’m so proud that we are working with her and the young women in our county who are tackling the issue head on.”
The partnership is an important development in Dr McAllister-Viel’s research which has captured public imagination by seeking to celebrate the rich diversity of voices in the county.
Dr Tara McAllister-Viel, who is also Head of Voice and Speech at East 15, said:
“The Essex accent, like all accents, isn’t just about how we sound. It is part of our identity and what shapes us, and it connects us to our home wherever we travel.
“When residents take a train out of Essex, they take that identity and sense of belonging with them in their voices, but they also take with them the stereotypes.
“When someone criticises your accent you can feel they are criticising you and your home so it’s vital that we empower people to “talk back” to accent prejudice using the same voice that was just criticised.
“These spoken word poems have something to say. We invite you to listen as well as join in celebrating one thing you love about your accent.”
Dr Sarah Perry, Chancellor of the University of Essex, said:
“As an Essex girl who used to try to conceal her accent, I’m thrilled about this project, which seems to me an exciting development in how arts and humanities research intersects with politics and with the local community.”
The launch of Accent Essex is also part of a calendar of events by c2c to mark Railway200.
Refreshments for were provided by local independent supplier Wilma’s cakes, located next to Southend Central station.
ENDS
About c2c Railway
- c2c Railway Limited is the award-winning train operator running services between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, serving 26 stations in East London and South Essex.
- c2c is one of the UK’s most punctual and popular train operators and nearly 37.3 million journeys are made on its services every year.
- The operation of all c2c services transferred into public ownership on Sunday 20 July 2025 and is managed by DFTO (DfT Operator Ltd).
- For more information email mediaenquiries@c2crail.net
Images
- Featured Image: Group image of young poets and their parents with Dr Tara McAllister Viel and Dr Sarah Perry with Abu Siddeeq, c2c Interim Director of HR and Com
- Second Image: Accent Essex leaflet
- Third Image: l-r Dr Tara McAllister Viel with Dr Sarah Perry and Abu Siddeeq, c2c Interim Director of HR and Communications
- Fourth Image: Essex poet and performer Hollie Dee at the launch of Accent Essex at Southend Central
- Fifth Image: Team c2c at Southend Central sharing Accent Essex leaflets
- Sixth Image: Write2Speak founder Yossi Goodlink performing at Southend Central
- Seventh Image: Dr Sarah Perry at the launch of Accent Essex at Southend Central
- Eighth Image: The cakes served at the event
Write2Speak
- Write2Speak is a spoken word poetry organisation, launched in 2017 by professional poets, actors and performance educators, Tyler Luke Cunningham and Yossi Goodlink.
- Every year Write2Speak support thousands of young people and adults to express themselves through spoken word
- Our work changes lives, inspiring people to connect with themselves, each other, and the world around them. We achieve this by running workshops, projects, and events in collaborating with primary schools, secondary schools, colleges, universities, youth groups, local authorities, charities, and companies across the UK. .
- The music for the Accent Essex video installation was produced by Tyler Luke Cunningham
- Find out more about the work of Write2Speak and how to get involved:
- Website www.Write2speak.co.uk
- Email Info@write2Speak.co.uk
- Instagram @Write2SpeakUK
- YouTube: Write2Speak