Kate Gorst was one of nearly 50 outreach volunteers who worked on the BBC Outreach Talent Ticket roadshow which takes broadcast and performance skills to around 1500 pupils in high schools and colleges in Bristol for a fortnight each March.
‘It really felt like the BBC was giving something back’
This is the second year I've worked on BBC Outreach Talent Ticket and I must say it's absolutely fantastic – and really good fun. It's a great way of meeting lots of young people in one go and getting out and about to let them know what the BBC has to offer.
It's very enjoyable in of spending the day with teenagers and running workshops with them; it's very interactive so all the youngsters get a chance to do foley (sound effects which are added to film and other media in the post-production stage), or production, or experience recording with a green screen - so it's a very hands-on day. It’s something different for the teachers, too.
One of the great things you get out of it is if you are with young people who, at first, seem really uninterested, and you can tell they think: "Oh this is going to be really boring," but by the end of it the number of them who are enthusing: "I absolutely love it, I thought the last three hours would be really boring but it's been such fun” - this is really rewarding for us all.
I took part in the TV production workshop. The best part was seeing the group becoming totally absorbed in the workshop and having fun with it whilst getting an insight into TV- making. Watching how they all worked together as a team, I was really impressed as they had only short direction at the start.
Every single student went away with something. You can see the excitement and the interest they get from a drumming workshop or learning about prosthetic make-up. They had preconceived ideas about what Talent Ticket with the BBC was going to be but I think they'll probably be talking about it for a long time.
I work as a Unit Manager in the Natural History Unit in Bristol which involves working closely with Development to get programme ideas into production and then help the teams through to the programmes going out on TV.
I have been working in TV for about 18 years and my first job at the BBC was a two-week temp job to cover holiday leave. I started as a production secretary, became a production coordinator, and was promoted to a Production Manager.
In my current role I don’t have much to do with young audiences but I have a 13 and 12 year old, so I am very aware of what appeals to that age group.
For BBC volunteers, Talent Ticket is great for building confidence around this age group and having a better understanding of what is interesting and exciting for school pupils.
It really felt like the BBC was giving something back, it was opening up people's eyes to what the BBC can offer in of jobs and opportunities, and the BBC is for everybody, it really is. It feels good to make that connection with different schools, and I am already looking forward to next year.
