Tottenham programme for young DJs launches

A new programme for young adults to learn fundamental DJing skills will launch in Tottenham this autumn. 

From mid-October, Mission London, a streaming studio in Tottenham, will be providing DJ training as part of its ‘discovery’ programme open to young adults aged 18-30 who are not in further education or training and live in Haringey. The programme will provide free access sessions to 35 participants who will learn the fundamental skills for DJs including practicing in the studio using industry-standard DJ equipment, software theory, access to online material, and mentoring. 

Participants will also learn how to create promotional mixes and assets to prepare them for meetings with promoters and venues, while also being supported to perform in front of an online audience by recording and streaming from the Mission London platform. Past participants on a similar programme from last year have since been able to secure paid gigs and work. 

The programme aims to nurture local talent and encourage artists to give back to the community whilst being supported to achieve their goals, with a focus on supporting underrepresented artists. It also aims to establish a grassroots hub that will be a dedicated music space – identifying and offering resources to artists. 

According to Parliamentary data, as of August 2023 there are 8,445 people in Tottenham claiming unemployment-related benefits, including 1,055 young people – a 76% increase from March 2020. 

Consultation conducted by Mission London also found that 87% of young creatives cannot access industry-standard equipment. As a result, its discovery programme aims to establish a grassroots hub that identifies and offers resources to talented individuals who will benefit from the provision of a dedicated music space that serves their artistic needs and ambitions. 

A spokesperson from Mission London said: “To get young people into something they enjoy doing is amazing and DJ courses are costly, so this programme is to enable young people to be able to make a living off of their passion. We are also aware of the limitations for young people in Haringey and North London who are interested in DJing but have not been able to get started in the industry due to lack of access to training or equipment which is why we are offering this programme for free.”

The deadline to apply for the programme is Thursday, 12th October at midnight.