Hundreds Expected at Cumbrian Community Festival Led by 15 Year Old
Hundreds Expected at Cumbrian Community Festival Led by 15 Year Old
A youth-led festival is set to take over Energy Coast UTC this summer, bringing together live music, careers opportunities, community organisations and hundreds of young people from across Cumbria.
NEAD CIC’s Energy Coast LIVE! 2026 will take place on Tuesday 7th July 2026 at Energy Coast UTC in Lilyhall and is expected to welcome almost 500 attendees throughout the day.
Delivered by Northern Equality and Diversity (NEAD CIC) in partnership with Energy Coast UTC and Proud and Diverse Cumbria, the event has been planned and developed by young people with support from education, community and industry partners.
The free ticketed festival will feature a packed programme of live entertainment, alongside a careers fair, interactive activities, food vendors, local traders and community organisations.
NEAD have already confirmed a growing line-up of performers including The Anthems, Triggers Broom, Luke Mat, DJ Chris Pears, Kyle Newrick, with further announcements expected in the coming weeks.
Alongside the music programme, attendees will have the opportunity to meet employers, apprenticeship providers and training organisations through a dedicated Careers Fair designed to connect young people with opportunities available across the region.
A Vendors Market in partnership with TEG Retail will showcase local businesses, street food providers and community groups, while the Garden Zone will offer interactive activities and workshops throughout the day.
The project is being led by 15-year-old Rocco Boyd, Founder of Energy Coast LIVE!, Event Lead at Northern Equality and Diversity and Year 10 student at Energy Coast UTC.
Rocco Boyd, NEAD CIC: “Energy Coast LIVE is about creating opportunities for young people while bringing our community together. We wanted to create something exciting, professional and genuinely useful, not just a music event, but an event where the young people can discover opportunities and make connections to feel part of something bigger.”
“It’s incredible to see so many organisations getting behind the project and supporting young people to make it happen.”
Energy Coast UTC has played a key role in supporting the festival and providing the site for the festival.
Cherry Tingle, Energy Coast UTC: “We are absolutely delighted that some of our young people, brilliantly led by Year 10 student Rocco Boyd, are once again planning this superb event. The young people have planned every aspect of the event which we know will be even bigger and better than last year’s wonderful experience, also named Energy Coast Live!”
“Energy Coast UTC is all about providing opportunities and engagement with employers and expecting the highest standards in all we do and this exciting event – including musical artistes, a wide range of speakers and food stalls exemplifies what can happen when our young people are supported to achieve their very best.”
The event is led by NEAD and supported by Westinghouse, BEC, Cumberland Building Society, Dobies Cumbria, Prospect Sellafield, Energy Coast UTC, Proud and Diverse Cumbria and Carlos Reina Photography.
The event builds on the success of NEAD’s wider programme of community engagement, which has reached more than 11,000 people through events and initiatives across Cumbria.
Attendance is free, but tickets are required and capacity is limited to ensure a safe and well-managed event environment.
Free tickets are available now via: www.nead.uk/energycoastlive
Schools, employers, traders, community organisations and residents are all encouraged to get involved and support one of the region’s most ambitious youth-led projects.
Energy Coast LIVE! 2026
Tuesday 7 July 2026
Energy Coast UTC, Lilyhall, Cumbria
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