Days out

The BBC Blast tour truck arrived in Leeds, ready and prepared to take on the mammoth task of enthusing a myriad of 13-19 year olds. The aim of the Blast tour is to give young people a taste of working in the media and creative industries.

It was a beautiful sunny day at Kirkstall Abbey, and the BBC trucks were heaving with young people all taking part in various activities. I had a nose around and found out what they were up to.

Streetdance workshop

The two huge trucks were loaded with a vast array of hi-tech equipment and software. They had been converted into mini studios in which new 'blastees' could learn music production, video editing, stop frame animation, photography and some were even writing and producing their own radio play. Their were also people learning circus skills as well as street dance, breakdance and DJing.

I have very limited experience of young teenagers, and was actually prepared to find a load of kids who had been forced by their parents to take part in the events, in an attempt to have a break during the school holidays. What I actually found were quite talented young people who were all so keen that they were queuing up, waiting for the next workshop to start. There was a real buzz in the air, especially as the day wore on and people became more excited about the work they were producing.

Editing a radio drama

I ventured into the radio drama studio, where they were choosing sound effects for the play they had produced. After briefly listening to the play, which was actually pretty good, I had a chat with one of the 'blastees', 16 year old Michael, who has just finished his GCSEs at Leeds West Academy.

"It's been really fun and interesting - an opportunity to do something I wouldn't normally be able to do at home. I'd really like to work in radio or performing arts, so these workshops have been a real insight into how things work."

I had a quick peak at what some of the stop frame animation artists had been doing, and what they had managed to achieve in such a short space of time was amazing. The lads I spoke to had created their own Pac-man characters out of plasticine which they used to create a title sequence, which was hilarious and very inventive.

Stop frame animation workshop

I asked Sam Coggins and Jordan Catton if they wanted to get into animation when they left education: "No, not really, we are just here for fun, we want to be a Doctor and and in the RAF." This was a shame I felt, the world has been clearly robbed of the next Aardman animation team.

Blast On Tour is great for young people to get involved and learn from professionals in the industry. The tutors on each of the workshops were all successful in their own right, and it was great that they took the time out, to work with teenagers who may otherwise not have this opportunity. There was a lovely atmosphere, the staff were friendly and really made the kids feel like they were part of the Blast team. Who knows, maybe one day in the future some of these young people will end up on our radio stations or TV screens!