Bloodhound Education is celebrating after receiving a £4,800 grant from The Engineering Education Grant Scheme which provides support for UK-based education projects that increase engineering knowledge in young people.
This funding will enable it to develop a new hands-on activity to add to its education offer for schools and train and equip teachers from 10 Gloucester primary schools with a free sustainable ‘Bloodhound toolkit’ containing all the resources required for running the activities multiple times and further projects. The project will be aimed at Key Stage 2 with optional stretch for higher ability and Key Stage 3 pupils and designed for flexible delivery.
Using the Using the development of land speed record cars and Bloodhound LSR as a spark, the activities will introduce pupils to the technology and language before exploring real examples of the cleaner and smarter technology that will power future vehicles to the infrastructure in our buildings and cities that will make them active using the Internet of Things.
10 primary schools in Gloucestershire, will have the opportunity to be supplied with a Bloodhound Toolkit containing all the physical and digital activity resources. Bloodhound Education will be looking in particular to reach those students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to engage in fun, practical STEM activities, or consider a career in STEM. Teachers will have CPD training and receive on-going engagement and support from the Bloodhound Education team and Ambassadors based in our Education Centre at Gloucestershire Science & Technology Park.
The Engineering Education Grant Scheme (EEGS), which is run by the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, aims to engage young people aged 4-19 in learning about engineering and to develop the professional skills of those involved in supporting Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning and careers awareness.
Kirsty Allpress, CEO of Bloodhound Education said “The grant from EEGS will help us continue to support teachers, parents & students in the educational recovery from Covid-19 and deliver on our mission to inspire students to explore and pursue science, technology, engineering and maths.”
Colin Brown, CEO at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said: “Engineering Sustainable Futures project is a fantastic example of the kind of projects the EEGS scheme aims to promote. The UK is facing a critical engineering skills shortage and showing young people how creative and exciting engineering can be is a key way of inspiring the engineers of tomorrow.”
David Lakin, Head of Education at the Institution of Engineering and Technology, said: “In order to tackle the engineering skills gap we need more graduates and apprentices to enter the profession, and this can only happen if more school-age children – girls as well as boys – are attracted to, and choose to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects. The IET and IMechE are investing considerable resource in EEGS to support vital projects like Engineering Sustainable Futures, which highlight the exciting, creative and rewarding world of engineering careers to young people.”
Organisations capable of developing and delivering UK-based educational activities are eligible to apply to the EEGS scheme.
There are two levels of funding available. Awards of up to £5,000 are available for standard applications to the fund, and a limited number of awards up to £15,000 are available each year.