Young people experience their first live music festival

The unique ‘Reveals Festival’ was organised by staff and volunteers to help celebrate St John’s 130th anniversary this year. It is one of many events taking place throughout the year to raise awareness and understanding of learning disability issues, showcase the college’s life changing work and provided many of the students to their very first taste of a music festival.

Lucy Howells, Marketing and Enterprise Manager at St John’s, said the event was a great experience for the young people. “Many of our students have complex, profound and often debilitating learning disabilities and so don’t have the opportunities to experience events and outings that other teenagers enjoy, “ she said. ”The festival allowed our students to take part in something entirely new, interactive and fun.”

St John’s is a non-maintained special school and independent specialist college providing education, residential care and therapy to young people aged 7 to 25.

Performance highlights from the festival included outdoor yoga sessions, kite making, circus skills workshops, mindfulness colouring sessions and music from student band Dancing Rock Queens, Beat Express and festival headliner Daniel Wakefield. Lucy added: “The festival was an absolute triumph. Everyone had an amazing time and our students really enjoyed the performances and events - watching and taking part.”