The first event took place at Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot, where 15 Chatty Café attendees explored DJing, graffiti art and Hip Hop culture.

Ahead of the workshop, attendees submitted lists of their favourite songs. These selections covered a wide range of decades and genres, creating a soundtrack shaped by the group themselves.

Led by DJ Tommy P-Nuts, participants learnt how DJs mix between tracks and took turns blending their chosen songs into the next attendee’s selection using professional DJ equipment.

For many, it was their first experience behind the DJ decks.

The group also experimented with scratch DJing using mini turntables. Many found this particularly challenging after spending years being told never to scratch records from their own or their parents’ collections.

Alongside the music activities, graffiti artist Kingsyze helped attendees create their own graffiti tags by combining their names with interests, hobbies and personality traits. Once designed on paper, participants had the opportunity to add their artwork to a community graffiti board.

“One attendee said: “It was great fun. It was really interesting. The DJing was fascinating.” 

Another added: 

“It’s the first time I’ve done this before and I really enjoyed myself.”

The session was fully inclusive, with all attendees taking part, including a partially sighted participant who was able to experience scratch DJing through the sounds and feedback produced by the decks.

The event also highlighted how DJ workshops and graffiti workshops can help people of all ages explore creativity, self-expression and new experiences.

Learning Grandchildren’s Hobbies

The second event took place at KL Dance in St Helens, where around 25 children, parents and grandparents came together for an intergenerational activity session.

Rather than watching from the side-lines, grandparents and family members were encouraged to get involved and experience some of the activities their children and grandchildren enjoy.

Families explored scratch DJing together, learnt circus skills using flower sticks and took part in team challenges designed to encourage participation and laughter.

They also had the opportunity to watch Powered by Hip Hop students showcase some of the Breaking skills they have been developing through Hip Hop classes in St Helens.

One grandparent commented:

“It was great to spend time with my grandchildren learning their hobbies. I didn’t expect to have so much fun.”

The event created opportunities for different generations to spend quality time together, learn from each other and build new memories through shared experiences.

Challenging Assumptions Around Ageing

Both projects formed part of Age Without Limits Day, a national campaign encouraging people to question ageism and challenge assumptions about what people of different ages can and cannot do.

The activities showed that learning new skills, expressing creativity and participating in community activities do not have an age limit.

Following the workshops, many attendees stayed behind to continue conversations about ageing well, community connection and the stereotypes often attached to different generations.

The discussions highlighted how important welcoming community spaces can be in helping people remain active, connected and confident throughout life.

More Than Hip Hop Classes

Powered by Hip Hop CIC is best known for delivering Hip Hop classes in St Helens and Hip Hop classes in Prescot, but the organisation also delivers DJ workshops, graffiti workshops, school projects, community engagement programmes and intergenerational activities across the region.

Projects like these demonstrate how Hip Hop culture can be used as a tool for community connection, lifelong learning and bringing generations together through shared experiences.

Whether it is a young person learning their first Breaking move, a grandparent trying scratch DJing for the first time or a Chatty Café attendee creating their first graffiti tag, the principles remain the same: creativity, confidence and community belong to everyone.

Powered by Hip Hop Activities in St Helens and Prescot

Powered by Hip Hop CIC provides:

• Hip Hop Classes in St Helens
• Hip Hop Classes in Prescot
• Breaking Classes for children and young people
• DJ Workshops
• Graffiti Workshops
• School Workshops
• Community Projects
• Intergenerational Activities

Through these programmes, the organisation uses Hip Hop culture to build confidence, creativity, participation and community connection.

Thank You

Powered by Hip Hop CIC would like to thank the Centre for Ageing Better, Shakespeare North Playhouse, KL Dance, Chatty Café attendees, DJ Tommy P-Nuts, Kingsyze Graffiti and everyone who took part in making the projects a success.

Interested in Working With Powered by Hip Hop?

Powered by Hip Hop CIC delivers Hip Hop classes, DJ workshops, graffiti workshops, school projects and community activities across St Helens, Prescot and the wider region.

To find out more about our Hip Hop classes, DJ workshops, graffiti workshops or community projects, please get in touch.

For more updates, follow Powered by Hip Hop on Facebook and Instagram.

#AgeWithoutLimitsDay #QuestionAgeism