Youngsters are having super masterclasses in London’s deprived East End to learn how to be top DJs.

Three weeks of workshops are being held at the Old Truman’s Brewery in Brick Lane which end on Sunday.

They are part of the 15th anniversary celebrations by Defected Records which has been running the classes in partnership with Pioneer electronics and a charity helping youngsters in deprived areas to reach their potential.

The youngsters have been having one-to-one tuition with DJ expert Rik Parkinson and had a surprise appearance at the weekend by DJ Locksmith from Rudimental, Leon Rolle, who showed them the ropes on sound decks.

“This project is a cause close to my own heart,” Leon said. “I grew up in a similar area and understand what many of these kids have been through. Now they’re getting a chance at something that stimulates them.”

Leon demonstrated how he mixes two tracks and how the equipment “opens up your eyes to how much you can achieve when mixing music”.

The charity, Kids Company, was also given equipment by Pioneer for the youngsters to practice their new skills back at its centres in Bermondsey, Camberwell, Lambeth and Kilburn.

The charity’s Camila Batmanghelidjh said: “It’s not every day these kids see a celebrity DJ in action. These masterclasses show the children what they’re capable of achieving.”

Kids Company was set up in 1996 to give practical, emotional and educational support to vulnerable youngsters, reaching 36,000 children in London and Bristol including the most deprived and those at risk whose parents are unable to care for them due to their own problems. It was selected in 2010 as a ‘Child Poverty Champion’ for its programme getting deprived children to achieve their full potential in life.