Children try DJing in converted police van
Children try DJing in converted police van
Clara BullockThu, July 30, 2026 at 5:10 AM UTC
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Pupils got to try out professional DJ equipment
Children sang pop hits, learned to mix tracks and dressed up as rock stars after a converted police van rolled into their Bristol school.
The vehicle has been transformed into a mobile DJ studio by Bristol charity Tread, which brings music workshops to young people across the South West.
Year 6 pupils with additional needs at Redfield Educate Together Primary Academy were invited to sing along to their favourite songs and try professional DJ equipment.
Izzy Cross, co-founder of Tread, said: "Being in Year 6, there's funding cuts and they're feeling it the most. Music is the most amazing outlet, getting involved with people, creating a community through music is the way forward."
Izzy Cross says music is "the most amazing outlet"
Cross said said music could provide young people with an important creative outlet at a time when arts provision was under pressure.
"We're born out of 10 years of doing DIY radio. Our beginnings were rocking up in someone's living room with a bit of tech.
"We felt we could channel that into social impact, doing some good."
She added that due to funding cuts and especially art programmes getting scrapped, the charity, which is run by internet radio station Noods, decided to come to Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools to throw students a "big party".
Cross said the project aimed to spark young people's curiosity about music and help them discover new interests and skills.
"I think the amazing thing we want to do is, if these kids got curious in music from our visit, there's a lot more they can get involved in."
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With funding from the National Lottery and national music charities, Tread hopes to reach thousands of children over the summer.
The pupils got to celebrate finishing their Year 6 exams ahead of joining secondary schools
Scott Freeman, head teacher at Redfield Educate Together, said: "Schools don't have a lot of money, so the fact they can come with their DJ kit will give them that skill set they need.
"They worked really hard to get through their exams and have come together really well.
"It's nice to celebrate that hard work with an experience like this.
"The fact they can use equipment they've not had before, giving them that opportunity, is amazing."
Myla said she had "a lot of fun" at the event
"I was singing some songs and it was really fun because we pretended to be DJing," Myla, one of the pupils, said.
"I love singing, music, all that stuff.
"We're going to be leaving school and I think lots of people are nervous."
The charity hopes its travelling studio will continue introducing more young people to music, creativity and performance in communities across the region.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
