More than 300 young people from east London embraced the opportunity to unleash their creativity and explore new skills during a free two-week summer school held across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in July and August. Designed to inspire, empower and ignite curiosity, the programme brought together world-leading and grassroots creative, cultural, and educational organisations to deliver an engaging, hands-on experience for young people from Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest. 

Now in its eighth year, East Summer School supports local communities around the Park by providing young people with the skills and knowledge to reach their full potential. Sessions spanned a diversity of disciplines from film, dance, fashion and music production to visual arts, creative writing, digital storytelling, environmental science, biodiversity exploration, technology and coding, and community-led projects. The programme aligns with the London Growth Plan’s ambitions for its Inclusive Talent Strategy, which promotes a skilled, diverse workforce through access to quality jobs, education, and employer-led training – particularly in growth sectors – while helping to remove barriers to employment. 

In a variety of sessions hosted by experts from institutes at the Park’s culture and education quarter, East Bank, young people had the opportunity to design fashion pieces with London College of Fashion, UAL, produce a radio show with BBC Music Studios, curate dance performances with Sadler’s Wells East, explore the world of game design with UCL Engineering, and develop skills in printmaking and photography with V&A East Storehouse. Elsewhere on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, participants could learn about the different ecosystems and habitats of insects with the Royal Entomological Society, develop business ideas with Social Ark, and go behind the scenes at a practical three-day lighting and production workshop with ABBA Voyage.  

Shazia Hussain, CEO, London Legacy Development Corporation – the organisation behind Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, said: “The London Growth Plan recognises that London cannot achieve its growth potential until all Londoners are achieving their potential – ambitions that are at the heart of East Summer School. Created to support diverse talent and remove barriers to opportunity, the programme equips young people with the skills, confidence, and networks they need to thrive in London's evolving workforce. We're proud to collaborate with a diverse group of institutions to open up access to spaces that have often felt out of reach. Together, we're spotlighting the talent and ambition of east London's next generation, while connecting them directly to the industries, opportunities, and futures these spaces represent.” 

Tracey Walsh, Chief Executive of East End Community Foundation, said: “We are proud to support East Summer School. We invest heavily in holiday provision for children and young people across the East End, so it was great to see first-hand how each programme provided young people with exposure to great learning opportunities, amazing facilities and resources. East Summer School is helping to ensure that every young person locally has the opportunity to thrive. We’re delighted to play a part in empowering the next generation to explore their potential and shape their futures.” 

Layla Conway, Head of Education, Careers and Youth Engagement at LLDC, added: “At East Summer School, we believe creativity has a role to play in every subject to help both creative and critical thinking. By making high-quality, hands-on experiences free and accessible, we’re ensuring that young people from Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest can explore their potential, build confidence, gain valuable skills and inspire curiosity.” 

East Summer School is organised by London Legacy Development Corporation with funding support from East End Community Foundation, in conjunction with organisations from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s culture and education district, East Bank – including UCL East, UAL’s London College of Fashion, BBC Music Studios, Sadler’s Wells East and V&A East. Other local organisations taking part included Class of Your Own, Rosetta Arts, Skate Cabal, Social Ark, X7eaven, City Mill Skate, Royal Entomological Society, Rich Mix, UD Music, East London Dance, Teesside University and ABBA Voyage. 

For more information on East Summer School, visit East Summer School | Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.