Stars support Radio 1 & 1Xtra Academy

Singers including Leona Lewis, Plan B and Labrinth are pledging their support for the Radio 1 and 1Xtra Academy.

It’s the stations’ biggest ever programme of social action, offering up to 10,000 young people around Hackney in East London the chance to gain skills and experience.

Dizzee Rascal, Ashley Walters, Rizzle Kicks, Lethal B, Adam Deacon, Riz Ahmed, Paloma Faith, Fearne Cotton, Gemma Cairney and Trevor Nelson are also confirmed to take part.

Opening in the run up to Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend, the Academy will feature a range of masterclasses, Q&As, panel sessions, practical workshops and sessions, and the chance to speak to careers advisors on site with advice on CVs and interview skills.

The sessions include:

• Music sessions on how to create your own music and promote it,

• Radio sessions on how to create your own radio broadcast, with advice on scriptwriting and interview techniques. Young people taking part in the music sessions will also get the opportunity to broadcast to the nation as part of a BBC Radio 1Xtra Take It On day, taking the reins on 1Xtra for a whole day on Saturday 16 June.

• Business sessions on the basics of setting up your own business, how to pitch, market and sell and a special Hackney Dragons Event where young entrepreneurs can pitch for investment from our very own Hackney Dragons.

• Fashion sessions on t-shirt design, fashion styling and fashion photography. T-shirts designed by young people at the Academy will be judged by a panel of fashion experts with the winning designs sold as a limited edition Radio 1 Hackney Weekend t-shirt.

• Film sessions on scriptwriting for EastEnders and beginners sessions on producing, directing, editing and camera and sound work. Participants who have completed all film beginners workshops will get the opportunity to make a Hackney-themed spoof film, to be shown on the main stage big screen at the Radio 1 Hackney Weekend.

• Games and software sessions on developing your own app and building your own website.

• Comedy sessions on developing stand-up, as well developing ideas for stage and TV.

• Journalism sessions including how to write and get published and masterclasses with journalists from range of publications including The Daily Star.