Summer Uni London Launch Event 2008

18 July 2008 - Rich Mix Cultural Foundation

SUL and THSU launch event

This year's SUL launch party certainly went with a bang!Partners, Funders, Youth Advisors, Summer Uni Co-ordinators and guestswere entertained by a packed programme put together by the YouthAmbassadors from Tower Hamlets Summer University (THSU) and Camden Summer Uni(CSU), whose launch was beamed live into the THSU central launch eventby video link-up!

The party kicked off with a rocking performance by a band on theTHSU Music Space course - 'Purple Socks' - and was followed withentertaining and inspiring speeches from Sarah Davies, ExecutiveDirector and Rex Hall, Founding Trustee of THSU. They took part in anunusual ribbon and cake cutting ceremony to celebrate and promote thatthere are now a phenomenal 32 Summer Unis running throughout London,for the first time ever! All Summer Uni Co-ordinators were invited onstage to join in with the cake cutting so guests could recognise theirhard work.

CSU then took over via live link up with excellent performances fromtheir young people who entertained us with their singing, rapping andpoetry. Thanks to Kim Trehane, Summer Uni Coordinator at CSU, fororganising a very impressive programme.

The central event then continued with talented performances fromTHSU students: The Directive, Essence, XTL Mc's, Gawain Hewitt from CM,THSU Peer Motivators who spoke about their crucial role within theorganisation, thought provoking films from the award winning www!project and dance performances from Rahath's dance group and Rumi andIffath, which got the crowd really going!

Information and displays from all the Summer Unis provided theguests with an impressive overview of just how much is on offer for theyoung people of London — over 2,300 courses and 40,000 course places.

Guests agreed that this was a brilliant way to launch this summer's London-wide programme of courses. The launch and our work across Londonis so important and impressive that we attracted the attention of BBCLondon Radio, BBC London lunchtime and early evening news, and havesome fantastic press coverage!

Well done everyone involved in Summer Uni this year!