No start to formal speech: it's helping (6)
I believe the answer is:
ration
'helping' is the definition.
(a ration is a serving or helping)
'no start to formal speech it's' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'no' could be 'o' (resembles 0 - 'no' can mean 'zero') and 'o' is located in the answer.
'it' could be 't' (abbreviation. e.g. in 'tis) and 't' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'rain' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ration that I've seen before include "Limit, share" , "Food apportionment" , "A fixed allowance in times of scarcity" , "Food allowance" , "Limit supply in time of scarcity" .)