YOUNG people in Cowley organised and produced their very own live music event as part of a summer project.

Teenagers from Rose Hill, Blackbird Leys, Barton and Littlemore hosted a "Live Shed Session" at the Art T Centre in Crowell Road last week.

The gig featured a full spectrum of music from hip-hop and RNB to rock and folk music - all created and run by the youths.

Director of Ark T Emmy O’Shaughnessy said the live music event was "absolutely brilliant".

She added: "The Live Shed Sessions was a short pilot summer project.

"The concept we wanted to provide was a positive activities during the summer holidays for young people.

"Over the weeks the young people have developed a range of skills in leadership and other areas by completely organising and running this themselves.

"The aim is to get them to develop skills they can use in life and also create opportunities, and increase their confidence."

Funded using a culture fund from Oxford City Council and the Elizabeth Jones Foundation, the teenagers organised everything from event marketing, ticketing, design and music on the night, gaining a wealth of experience and skills through recording, performance and workshops.

The project works with referrals from organizations such as schools and the Youth Offending Team, as well as young people in the local community who are enthusiastic about music.

Ms O’Shaughnessy said the Live Shed Session was really well attended.

She added: "There was a really wide age range. It was up from four to people in their mid 60s.

"There were family members of the young people performing which was really lovely to see.

"We would like to turn it into an quarterly event and are hoping for more funding and to do some fundraising."

The centre was opened at John Bunyan Baptist Church in the autumn of 1997 by the then Bishop of Oxford, The Right Reverend Richard Harries.

It contains rehearsal space for theatre and dance performers and a concert room, as well as rooms for art exhibitions, classes and workshops. The centre includes a recording studio which has helped young people create and record their own songs.

Thousands of youngsters aged from 11 to 19 have been supported by the centre’s youth project since it opened in 1999.

It has been at the heart of the East Oxford community since 1997, providing arts and music projects for residents.