The Vlogstar Challenge gives our students the chance to shine

Media Trust’s Vlogstar Challenge programme and competition delivered in partnership with the Jack Petchey Foundation, provides free video content creation workshops to schools and youth organisations across London and Essex.

Supported by YouTube and the Evening Standard, the programme has trained nearly 6000 young people aged 16-25 since it began in 2015, giving them the skills and confidence to share their thoughts on the the issues that matter to them through video blogging (vlogging).

One school who has been working with Media Trust to host Vlogstar Challenge Workshops for their students over the past three years is Global Academy.

The West London school is for Year 10 – Year 13 students and alongside GCSEs and A Levels, specialises in providing its students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in broadcast and digital media.

The benefits

We spoke to their Head of External Relations and Careers Jonathan Jacob about the benefits the Vlogstar Challenge programme and competition has brought to his students.

“When I first heard about the Vlogstar Challenge, I thought this looked like something right up our street for students, as they’re super creative” said Jonathan. “We love working with industry partners too as this makes learning real for our students.”

The Workshops

The one-day workshops are delivered by Media Trust’s expert trainers in-house at schools and youth organisations. Each session can accommodate up to 30 young people and will guide them through shooting, editing and producing their own video blogs, creating a YouTube channel and building an audience safely online.

It’s perfectly aimed at the target audience and age group

Jonathan from Global Academys Headshot Jonathan Jacob, Head of External Relations and Careers, Global Academy

Jonathan said: “The sessions are well organised and engage the students – each year we run this we find the activity gets better and better. It’s perfectly aimed at the target audience and age group.”

As well as teaching technical skills the workshop encourages students to discover and articulate what is important to them in an engaging and positive way. Jonathan said: “We have seen students shine and become fully engaged with the programme. They like having the creative output.”

The competition

Everyone that attends a workshop is invited to submit their best vlogs into the 2019/20 Vlogstar Challenge competition. Fifteen finalists are then chosen to attend a production day at YouTube HQ and invited to the Grand Final to showcase their work, with the chance of winning £500 worth of production equipment, £2,000 towards their chosen school/college/charity or youth organisation that they represent throughout the programme, mentoring sessions with YouTube and work experience with Media Trust’s corporate partners.

Global Academy’s pupils have had a particularly good track record. Jonathan said: “Each year one of our students has gotten to the final 15. We’re so honoured and grateful and it’s super exciting. This gives other students something to work for!”

This year, Global Academy student Eloise Morrison made it to the final. You can watch her vlog below.

Global Academy student, Eloise Martin's Vlogstar Challenge Final entry

If you would like to organise a workshop for your school or organisation you can find out more here or contact Media Trust’s Vlogstar Challenge team at [email protected].  

Find out more about the Vlogstar Challenge

Our Corporate Partners

We enjoy outstanding support from the media industry. Our partners include: