When police officer Corville Hylton first heard about Bermuda Toastmasters he imagined it might be some kind of drinking club and hesitated about joining.

But after getting his friend to explain exactly what the club does in helping people to develop leadership and communication skills, Mr Hylton decided to become a member.

Over the past year the club has helped him to sharpen his public speaking skills — which has come in handy through his role as a Supreme Court Officer and youth leader at his church.

“It gives you more confidence to go before people and speak when you actually know what you are doing,” Mr Hylton said.

Founded in 1924, Toastmasters International is an educational organisation that operates thousands of clubs worldwide. It’s aim is to help members improve their communication, public speaking and leadership skills so they can excel in the workplace and beyond.

The local club has been operating for the past 20 years and currently has a thriving membership, averaging about 30 people per meeting.

President Kimberley Caines said: “The beauty of our club is that we have an array of members, from various professions and backgrounds and countries that attend — all unified with a common purpose of becoming the best public speaker that they can be.”

The group is currently launching a campaign called ‘Speak Up’ — and is looking to encourage people to make a New Year’s Resolution to take steps to better their public speaking skills in 2014.

Studies show that more people fear public speaking than death. However, the club looks to help people hone their skills in a low-pressure environment.

Mr Hylton said: “The first time I had to speak before the club was a little intimidating and uncomfortable being in that new environment, but as soon as I realised how embracing and supportive the other member’s were it got easier.

“Their feedback and comments are also very kind and constructive, so you don’t feel offended by what they have to say.”

Another person who has benefited after joining the group is 25-year-old Krista Dyer.

After returning from overseas, Ms Dyer found herself looking for employment in the hospitality industry but wasn’t faring well with interviews.

“I don’t think I was portraying enough self confidence,” she said, “so one man at the end of the interview pulled me aside and said ‘Have you every thought about joining Toastmasters?’”

That was all the aspiring professional needed to hear. She started looking more into the organisation and then found herself at one of the local group meetings.

“I went and was kind of hooked from the start,” she said. “There were lots of people getting together who wished to improve on some aspect of their public speaking and leadership skills and portraying that aura of self confidence.

“So I thought this would help with that self confidence issues I had.”

Ms Dyer remembers being nervous when speaking in front of a large group, but over time has grown more comfortable with the process.

These days she can feel herself counting the number of ‘umms’ and other fillers she uses when she speaks.

She said the group operates under a “learn-by-doing” philosophy and each member is allowed to progress at their own pace.

Both Mr Hylton and Ms Dyer are currently working towards the first award level, which is known as a Competent Communicator.

In Bermuda Toastmasters’ history two people have been able to reach the highest award level, known as a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM). The group meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month at the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce in Hamilton. A yearly membership costs around $130, which includes reading materials and a monthly publication from Toastmasters International. To sign up or find out more about the group, e-mail bermudatm@gmail.com.