East Summer School: Cultivating Skills and Community in East London
- Written byNicole Horgan
- Published date 01 April 2026
East Summer School was established to bridge the gap between local communities and creative opportunities within East London’s rapidly growing cultural, creative and digital sectors. Many students in the area lack access to the resources and mentorship needed to pursue careers in these industries. As part of National Careers Week, the East Bank partners host East Careers week targeted at schools where groups of students are introduced to a range of activities across a spectrum of sectors and industries. Following this young people can independently pursue specific interests through East Summer School to engage more deeply. In parallel to this, the East Ed Teaching Network connects teachers, students and partners through tours, performances, virtual sessions, and online resources to teacher events.
The East Summer School programme is structured around several core components:
- Participant Engagement: Young people aged 12-17 from local boroughs are invited to apply for the free courses, which focus on skills development in areas such as radio production, choreography, digital fashion, and more.
- Course Delivery: Participants engage in a wide variety of hands-on workshops, supported by experts from institutions like the BBC, UCL, LCF, V&A and Sadler’s Wells, where they are introduced to professional tools and environments.
- Impact Evaluation: Feedback from participants is collected to refine future programmes, and partnerships with local organizations are strengthened to ensure the continued relevance and accessibility of the programme.
East Summer School has launched a series of initiatives and projects that embody its core mission: fostering creativity, accessibility, and skills development for young people in East London. These not only introduce participants to a diverse range of creative fields but also provide unique opportunities to collaborate with leading professionals, institutions, and cutting-edge technologies.
As a key element of East Bank’s broader strategy to nurture creative talent in the local community, East Summer School was established to deliver on a shared commitment to community outreach and inclusive education, designed to provide meaningful opportunities for underrepresented groups. Its ongoing success is driven by continuous feedback from participants and local stakeholders, ensuring the programme remains relevant and impactful.
Aims
- Provide young people with creative and skills required for the future.
- Offer accessible, high-quality learning experiences.
- Strengthen ties between East London communities and world-class cultural institutions.
- Support participants from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.
Initiatives and activities
London College of Fashion
London College of Fashion workshops focused on a range of fashion disciplines. Young people were introduced to key elements of styling and branding and created a front cover image for a magazine concept. In the design course young people got to grips with knit machines developing their own garment piece which they then styled and draped and modelled for a short fashion film. During the business course young people used a variety of media to explore fashion branding.
BBC Glow Up
Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star is a hit television show to find new makeup artists, it is judged by industry professionals Dominic Skinner and Val Garland. Glow Up joined forces with the LCF Make up for Fashion team to deliver a course introducing young people to creative make up. Young people worked alongside the industry professionals to learn application techniques in the LCF make up studios and created exciting looks for their creative portfolios.
UCL skateboarding and urban design
Focused on the concept of skate parks as versatile, community-driven public spaces. Over the course of the programme, students worked with UCL’s engineering and urban planning teams to learn about environmental sustainability, architecture, and landscape design. The participants were tasked with designing their own skate parks, which culminated in a hands-on experience at the City Mill Skate Park, developed in collaboration with the East London skating community.
V&A East
Young people attending V&A East workshops worked in LCF studios to study ceramics and print making. Over the duration of the two workshops they created mosaic tiles inspired by nature and used screens to print on t-shirts and fabric.
Celebration
Each year, the East Summer School programme concludes with a celebratory event that brings together young participants, their parents/guardians, and all the partnering organisations. The event showcases the students' work and awards certificates recognising their newly acquired skills. The celebration event for East Summer School 2024 was held in LCF’s main lecture theatre, and guests were treated to live music, dance performances, fashion, and skateboarding films, along with a small exhibition that highlights the outcomes of the various courses.
Placemaking outcomes
More accessible
More equitable
Targeting outreach to underrepresented groups in East London, the programme has levelled the playing field, offering opportunities to untapped talent.
More inclusive
Fostering an inclusive learning environment, where participants feel supported and encouraged to express their creativity.
More sustainable
Design workshops highlighting sustainable practices, teaching participants how to incorporate environmental awareness into their creative work.
More innovative
Offering hands-on experience in cutting-edge fields such as digital media, broadcasting, and fashion technology, the programme equips participants with tools to innovate in their future careers.
More prosperous
Contributing to the broader prosperity of the local creative economy by nurturing talent, promoting career pathways, and strengthening ties between local communities and major cultural institutions.
Nurturing collaborative and sustained engagement
Ensuring long-term funding for the programme as demand grows
Providing diverse course offerings with limited resources
Sustaining participant engagement beyond the two week programme
Approach: Building a network to offer continued support and access to opportunities.Legacy
East Summer School is poised to leave a legacy in East London by continuing to expand its reach and deepen its impact. The programme has already proven to be a powerful tool in bridging the gap between local communities and world-class cultural institutions. As it grows, East Summer School aims to further strengthen its alumni network, secure sustainable funding, and continue empowering the next generation of creative professionals in East London.