18th or 21st birthday speech
Cue cards for a parent, sibling or friend giving an 18th or 21st birthday speech: growing-up stories, who they are now, hopes for the future and a toast.
Speech10 cardsAbout 4 min to speakBeginnerWork
Farewell speech for a colleague or friend
Farewell speech cue cards for saying goodbye to a colleague, manager, classmate or friend who is leaving: memories, their impact, good wishes and a toast.
Free to use, edit, print and study. No account needed: your set stays on this device.
The cards
- 1
Gather people
“If I could have everyone’s attention for a few minutes, we’re here to say goodbye to [name].”
- 2
Their time here
“[Name] joined us [when], as [role / new neighbour / new student].”
A quick first impression: [what you remember from their first week].
- 3
What they did
Name one or two real contributions: [a project, a fix, a new habit they started, the way they ran meetings].
Be specific; specifics show you noticed.
- 4
A story
One short story that sums them up: [story].
End with: “That’s [name] all over.”
- 5
What we’ll miss
“We’ll miss [their laugh / their spreadsheets / their snacks / their calm when things went wrong].”
Mix one small, funny thing with one bigger thing.
- 6
Where they’re going
“[Name] is off to [new job / new city / study / parental leave / travel].”
Say why that suits them.
- 7
Gift or card
If there is a gift or card: “We’ve all [signed this / chipped in for this], and we hope it [reminds you of us / gets used].”
- 8
Messages from others
Read one or two short notes from people who could not attend: “[Name] from [team / city] says: [message].”
Keep each to a sentence or two.
- 9
What they taught us
“Working with [name], we learnt [to ask better questions / to celebrate small wins / that deadlines can be met calmly].”
- 10
Toast
“Please raise your [glasses / mugs] to [name].”
“Good luck, and stay in touch!”
Invite [name] to say a few words if they’d like to.
How to use this template
Use these cards when someone is leaving and you have been asked to say goodbye: a colleague moving on, a manager stepping down, a team member going on parental leave, a classmate moving schools or a friend moving overseas. A farewell speech should leave the person feeling noticed and appreciated, and give the room a chance to share that. The cards cover gathering people, their time with you, what they actually did, one story, what you will miss, where they are going, a gift and a toast. Keep it to three or four minutes, especially at work, where people may be standing. Fill in the [brackets] with real examples; a specific thank-you is worth far more than general praise. If you are the one leaving, the thank-you speech at a party template will help you reply.
Tips
- Ask a few colleagues or friends for a memory each, so the speech reflects more than your own view.
- Keep it positive and avoid any reference to why they are leaving if it is sensitive.
- At work, check whether people are joining online and make sure the microphone or laptop can pick you up.
- Stand where the person leaving can see you and look at them during the story and the toast.
- Have the gift ready and in reach before you start, so there is no awkward search.
- Leave a moment at the end for the person to reply, but do not push them if they would rather not.
- Time it so the speech happens while most people are still there, not at the very end when half the room has gone.
Make it fit
- For a manager or senior leader, add a card on the culture or habits they leave behind that the team will keep.
- For someone going on parental leave, keep it light and say the team looks forward to hearing their news.
- For a friend moving overseas, add a line in the language of their new country or a nod to their new home.
- For a quick send-off at a team meeting, use only their time here, what we will miss and the toast.
- For a teacher leaving a school, include a line from the students, collected beforehand.
- If the person is leaving under difficult circumstances, keep it brief, warm and focused on their contribution, and skip the jokes.
Updated October 28, 2026