Inspire Youth Zone Chorley builds confident first steps in digital making through Skills Bootcamps
Inspire Youth Zone in Chorley has boosted its hands-on tech offer after staff completed 3D 360’s Advanced Manufacturing Skills Bootcamp, helping young people take confident first steps in CAD, 3D printing, VR and beginner robotics.
The town centre charity welcomes between 80 and 120 young people each evening, with dedicated clubs starting around 4:30 pm. Its MakerZone adds 3D printing, laser cutting, electronics and robotics to the usual mix of sport and creative arts.
MakerZone Coordinator Kirsty Lane joined the Skills Bootcamp to build practical confidence she can pass on to members. She described the delivery as clear and actionable, with a blend of workshops, one-to-one support and peer learning that translated quickly back on site. “Very easily, very bite sized chunks... nothing was too far that I couldn’t follow,” she said.
Kirsty’s priority is to lower barriers for beginners and keep activities tactile and collaborative. “Our job is to introduce them and give them the experiences and the pathways to create something for themselves and to spark that interest,” she said.
Early results include:
Creative CAD sessions using tools like Blender with pen and tablet input, which helps young people who prefer hands on art
Clear starter routes in 3D printing and CAD so staff can take beginners from A to B, then signpost deeper learning where needed
Session design that suits busy evening timetables, with colleagues enrolling on the same training to widen delivery capacity
A practical wishlist of youth friendly kit to sustain and scale activities
Next, exploring simple robotics and electronics that make cause and effect obvious, for example, pen following robots
VR as a shared experience by casting the headset view to an interactive whiteboard so whole groups can join in
Workforce development is central to the plan, with additional staff now training so more sessions can run and more young people can be supported.
Next steps will build on 3D printing, expand stylus-first CAD, and test accessible robots. The team is also exploring sustainable making, casting VR to shared screens across more rooms, and links with other centres in the OnSide network. Outreach options are on the table, too, including a visit from the 3D 360 STEM truck.
Inspire Youth Zone says the approach keeps digital making physical, visual and social, which fits evening sessions and supports inclusive learning for ages 7 to 18, and up to 25 for those with additional needs.
Looking to build practical 3D printing skills that deliver real impact and fast?
3D 360’s 3D Printing & Industry 4.0 Skills Bootcamps offer hands-on, industry-focused training that equips youth groups, educators and businesses with the tools to solve problems, increase productivity, improve efficiency and drive innovation. Suitable for all abilities, they cover 3D Printing, 3D CAD, robotics, automation, AI, Big Data and much more. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to upskill your team, these programmes provide a solid foundation in advanced manufacturing.