400 people attend student led festival that helped give young people new skills to help them in their future careers

One guest speaker included filmmaker who had his work featured on Netflix

An inspirational cinematographer and writer called Ayman Alhussein was one of a number of guests who were involved in a two-day student led event called ThriveFest.

Ayman Alhussein has worked on a number of films including a 2022 movie called Swimmers that aired on Netflix.

Organised by learners from Abbeygate Sixth Form College, West Suffolk College and One Sixth Form College, ThriveFest saw 400 young people take part in workshops relating to everything from mental health to the media.

Taking place at the University Professional Development Centre in Bury St Edmunds and run in conjunction with Volunteering Matters and the National Citizen Service, the idea behind this occasion was to give students who are supported by the Eastern Education Group, the opportunity of gaining a host of new skills outside of the classroom.

Students decided that the overarching themes would include wellbeing, cultural heritage, employability, equality and the media.

A range of organisations including Active Suffolk, Aspire Black Suffolk, the BBC and the University of Suffolk came along to hand out information.

And a variety of speakers talked on subjects that focussed on everything from women in leadership to breaking down barriers in the construction industry.

Dance, yoga and an escape room were other activities on offer.

Read the full story and view photos on the Eastern Education Group website