Place2Be and BAFTA take the Young BAFTA Roadshow to Rochdale and Birmingham

04 June 2026

Place2Be, UK’s leading children’s mental health charity, and BAFTA brought the Young BAFTA Roadshow with Place2Be to Castleton Primary School in Rochdale on 2nd June and Ark Tindal Primary Academy in Birmingham on 3rd June. Both visits were hosted by television presenters Ben Shires (Officially Amazing, CBBC) and Shanequa Paris (Newsround, BBC Radio 1), who spent the day sharing their experiences of working in broadcasting and speaking with pupils about creative careers.

Castleton Primary Young BAFTA Roadshow Roundtable Session Cover Image

Now in its tenth year, the Young BAFTA Roadshow with Place2Be continues to bring role models from across the screen industries into primary schools, helping children grow in confidence, strengthen their communication skills and learn more about the wide variety of jobs behind film, television and games. The programme is developed for Key Stage 2 pupils and places a strong emphasis on creativity, teamwork and self-belief through positive interactions with industry professionals.

“The Young BAFTA Roadshow was an inspiring experience for our pupils. It opened their eyes to the exciting world of film, television and gaming, while encouraging creativity, confidence and ambition. The opportunity to meet industry professionals and see a real BAFTA award made the day unforgettable.” Joe Quinn, Deputy Headteacher/ SENDco at Castleton Primary School

The partnership combines Place2Be’s Whole School Approach to emotional wellbeing with BAFTA’s links to the creative industries, delivering this to schools in underrepresented communities across the UK. Together, this delivers powerful creative school experiences that celebrate children’s ideas, inspire ambition and help pupils imagine new possibilities for their future.

During the visits to Castleton Primary School and Ark Tindal Primary Academy, pupils took part in an inspirational assembly, class meet-and-greets and interactive sessions exploring the skills involved in screen-based careers. Children were given the opportunity to ask questions, hear directly from the hosts about their career journeys and see an actual BAFTA mask up close. Across the two days, the activities supported speaking, listening, collaboration and confident self-expression.

Ark Tindal Young BAFTA Roundtable Students Cover Image

The Young BAFTA Roadshow days also highlighted the link between creativity and wellbeing. By encouraging pupils to take part, share their views and try new forms of expression, the sessions helped reinforce the wider emotional and social skills that can support children both in school and beyond. The combination of relatable hosts, practical activities and space for discussion helped make the experience both aspirational and accessible.

The 2026 Young BAFTA Roadshow programme continues to prioritise reach, equity and access, with participating schools selected to help ensure that children who might otherwise have limited exposure to the screen industries benefit from the experience.