The Newquay DJ school sending its students to Boardmasters

Eight young people from Newquay are about to spend four hours in front of thousands of festival-goers, and every one of them learned to DJ in the same small studio. For most of them, walking onto a Boardmasters stage will be the biggest thing they have ever done. Behind that moment is a Cornish organisation that says it cannot keep going on passion alone, and it is asking the county to help.

A school for the young people who don’t fit the mould

Amplify SW is a Community Interest Company based in Newquay with a single stated aim: to build community through music. It runs a DJ school and studio in the town, taking music education out to SEND alternative provisions, academy trusts, youth clubs and community groups across Cornwall.

The students tend to be young people who do not always thrive in traditional education. Many are neurodivergent. Amplify SW gives them the technical skills, the confidence and, crucially, a platform.

The organisation was founded and is directed by Natalie Nicholas, a festival producer, DJ, music educator, TEDx speaker and mum of two.

“The stage has always belonged to the few,” Natalie says. “We’re levelling the playing field to provide opportunities for talented young people, and to inspire future generations.”

Eight artists, four hours, one stage

This summer, Amplify SW’s students take over a stage at Boardmasters, one of the UK’s most iconic coastal festivals and one that puts Cornwall on the global map. Every artist in the takeover is a current student at the DJ school.

Natalie is clear that what the audience sees will be more than a run of DJ sets. It is the result of hours of practice and mentoring, a showcase of emerging Cornish talent, and, in her words, a celebration of neurodivergent creativity and resilience.

One of the performers is DJ T, a blind and autistic artist who has already played events across Cornwall. He is known for his mic commentary and high-energy party sets, and he has a habit of moving crowds that would rather stay still.

“DJ T is an absolute inspiration on the stage,” Natalie says. “He’s been known to get everyone dancing on tables, so be warned.”

For the young people involved, Natalie frames the slot as something bigger than a booking. “This is a moment,” she says. “It’s proof that grassroots music education creates real pathways into confidence, community and a sense of belonging.”

Why the future is not guaranteed

Despite a growing reputation, Amplify SW says its survival is not secure. The organisation is supported by the National Lottery and the Boardmasters Foundation, and it has curated stage takeovers and workshops at festivals including Rock Oyster Festival, Golowan Festival and Kernowtopia.

But rising costs, increasing demand and the complex needs of the young people it works with mean the current funding no longer stretches far enough. Without new investment, Amplify SW warns, a genuinely unusual community asset, and the safe creative space that comes with it, is at risk.

“We know our approach works,” Natalie says. “We see anxious, withdrawn young people grow into confident performers, collaborators and leaders. But we can’t do it on passion alone. We need partners who believe in Cornwall’s young people as much as we do.”

What the money would pay for

Amplify SW is now looking for investment, sponsorship and long-term partnerships to keep the DJ school running and to grow it. Its plans include securing alternative provision settings across Cornwall, funding bursaries and free places for the young people who need them most, and investing in equipment, staff and safeguarding.

The organisation says it wants to hear from local businesses after visible community impact, from social investors and philanthropists who care about inclusion, education and the arts, and from festival and events partners looking for authentic grassroots talent.

The ways to get involved run from programme sponsorship and naming rights to CSR collaborations and one-off or recurring donations to a “Save Our School” fund that pays for bursaries.

“We’re building the next generation of Cornwall’s music scene, young people who might never have found their place without this space,” Natalie says. “With the right backing, we can make sure this isn’t a one-off moment at Boardmasters, but the start of something much bigger.”

Anyone wanting to find out more can visit amplifysw.co.uk.