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The BBC were at Samuel Ward Arts and Technology College in Haverhill this morning running a taster session for a major media project in Bury St Edmunds next week.

Creative pupils aged 13-19 interested in music, TV and radio, were able to take part in a series of exciting free workshops run by BBC Blast.

Blast is the BBC’s youth creativity service and gives teenagers the chance to try out new skills, showcase their own work and find out more about working in the creative industries.

Each year the BBC takes Blast out on tour, giving young people the opportunity to get some hands-on experience and training in a wide variety of free multi-media workshops. Last year, Blast engaged over 170,000 teenagers in face-to-face activities throughout the UK.

A Blast advance tour van has been going round the area, visiting schools before the main tour arrives in Bury. They were at Samuel Ward from 9am to 1pm today and a series of groups of pupils were given the opportunity to have a go.

The event featured Blast’s small digital van, which converts into a mobile multi-media studio, equipped with laptops, cameras and sound equipment, offering an introduction to Blast and the creative media. This smaller vehicle meant that Blast could reach more young people in places inaccessible to the huge trucks on the main tour.

Pupils had the chance to use professional equipment to produce their own creative work, with advice and support from BBC staff and industry professionals. Some of the workshops that will be on offer included animation, music production, multi-media, gaming, radio, and much more.

Sian Lord, editor for BBC Blast, said:
“The idea of being creative can be pretty daunting, if you don’t consider yourself to be particularly artistic.

"But in fact there’s some creativity in all of us and sometimes all you need is a bit of inspiration. BBC Blast is all about inspiring young people to explore their own creativity, through technology and interactivity.”

The big event in Bury next week will see some Samuel Ward pupils taking advantage of two-day sessions on some of the most advanced technology available.