Blackburn College stages spectacular Cyber Fun Day

Families from across Lancashire flocked to Blackburn College recently for a unique, interactive festival aimed at demystifying the world of cybersecurity.

More than 1,100 adults and youngsters visited CyberFest Community Fun Day 2.0 held in the University Centre at Blackburn College.

The event, now in its second year, was bigger than ever with attendance figures doubling in a year.

It was a collaboration between Blackburn College and a number of groups and businesses, including community organisations One Voice and IMO, Blackburn and Darwen Youth Zone, tech company IN4 Group, Youth Zone Blackburn, The Making Rooms and Youth Zone.

Visitors were able to experience dozens of fun games and activities, spread across three floors of the state-of-the-art University Centre, aimed at getting children interested in cyber, as well as teaching ways for families to be safe online.

From the chance to fly drones and aircraft on flight simulators, VR head set experiences, code breaking challenges and spectacular Cyber Tron challenges, the festival brought together the very latest in cyber technology.

Visitors took part in a number of cybersecurity-related games and quizzes, as well as learning how to operate giant robots – built like transformers.

Other activities on offer included an escape room, laser tag and CyberOps Trivia, as well as learning how to program robots, and sessions of cybersecurity myth busting.

The many activities were designed to engage with everyone, from the age of six upwards, regardless of abilities, helping to unlock the world of cyber and digital technology world.

 An entire floor was packed with fun activities, many with prizes, including the chance to make 3D keyrings, experience laser engraving and an auto bot phishing game.

Nicola Clayton, Blackburn College executive director of business development and external engagement said: “After the success of CyberFest last year, we were delighted to host this event again, and to see all the businesses and organisations that we teamed up with last time returning again, as well as some new partners.

 “We had fantastic activities for our younger cohorts this year from our partners.  In our immersive suite, two of our students from the STEM Digital Bursary programme were taking visitors through a range of cyber related activities.

Employers including BAE Systems, Nybble, Oracle, Lancaster University, IN4 Group gave visitors insights into job opportunities and skills training.

Nicola added: “Cyber is a keystone of our digital age, and it has never been as important as it is now for the College and our partners to get out there into our community so people are aware of all the local and global job opportunities that are out there in cyber and digital careers.

“It is vital everyone knows about those career opportunities and how to access them. Young people might not have had that exposure to digital or cyber jobs if their parents are not in that area of work so they won't have the awareness.

“At Blackburn College, we have a duty to help bring that awareness.

“The National Cyber Force is opening four miles down the road from the College in Salmesbury, bringing lots of investment with cyber and digital businesses creating jobs not just at the NCF but across the supply chain.

For the first time, Cyber Fest featured a panel discussion in the centre lecture hall, bringing together leading figures from the digital and cyber world, employers and industry leaders for a session open to all visitors, Understanding the Cyber Landscape  in CyberFest will see hundreds of children.

Nicola Clayton said: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to plan and host CyberFest for the second year.

“Last year was such a roaring success, we have expanded the scope and now the CyberFest activities will be spread over three floors of the University Centre.

“Our first CyberFest had 660 attendees, and while we are expecting more numbers this year, we are also putting on so many more activities and games, so everyone will get a chance to have fun while learning about cybersecurity and digital safety.”

Blackburn College welcomed a number of groups for the event, including Youth Action, a local charity that helps young people and their families.

Returning partners One Voice Blackburn and IMO are community charities that work within Blackburn with Darwen and the Pennine Corridor to help underrepresented social groups and uplift marginalised communities.

IN4 Group are a digital skills training and business support company, who brought a number of robots to the event, as well as a VR escape room.