Careers in STEM Archives - Page 4 of 7

The Millennium Point Scholarship is an annual competition in partnership with Birmingham City University which awards a fully funded undergraduate degree at the faculty of Computing, Engineering, and the Built Environment. Now in its seventh year, we look at the STEM leaders behind this year’s judging panel.

Mike is Head of Business Development and education at Learn By Design, working in over 1,500 schools every year in outreach education: drop-down days and activities such as after-school clubs, with the vast majority having a STEM feel.

Mike is himself a STEM graduate (Chemistry and Sport Science) and has worked in STEM outreach and STEM education for around 20 years; he is also a qualified secondary science teacher.

He says: “I believe STEM’s really important to the region, both Birmingham and the Midlands as a whole; so much industry in the region has a STEM feel, from aeronautical to automotive, to new and emerging industries such as AI and gaming.

“There are so may jobs in STEM, that I believe it’s crucial for the prosperity and growth of both Birmingham and the Midlands, and it also offers so much opportunity to young people to have great careers, well-paid jobs and to travel; it’s the backbone of innovation which will drive our economy forward.”

He adds: “I think the scholarship is absolutely fantastic; it gives someone the opportunity to perhaps follow an education in STEM at graduate level which they may not otherwise have been able to do; there are, unfortunately, barriers to getting into higher education, and one of those is funding and being able to afford it. The scholarship offers someone the chance to pursue a lifelong passion and to have a fantastic career out of the back end of it.

“There is such a great need for promoting careers in STEM, and this plugs one small hole, but at least it gives someone the opportunity who might not have had it before.”

In terms of what he’s looking for from the finalists, Mike wants to see pure enthusiasm and a passion for STEM; a level of understanding and commitment: “I want to be sure that they’re actually going to see the course through,” he explains.

“I also want to learn more about the candidates in terms of what they hope to give back to the wider STEM community – do they do any outreach work, any volunteering, or do they have plans to – and I’d be really interested to know their future career ambitions – whether they want to go into the likes of research, engineering, innovation, AI.

“As much as we can as judges, I’d like to get to know them as people; what drives them, and why they’ve chosen a STEM subject, and why they needed or wanted to apply for the scholarship.”

For more information on the scholarship competition, or how to apply, please visit www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/scholarship

Find more interesting content from Millennium Point over at our news section, or follow us for daily updates on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn with @MillenniumPoint. Millennium Point is a landmark public building and multi-award-winning events venue in the Eastside of Birmingham City centre. Profits from our commercial activity are invested by the Millennium Point Charitable Trust into projects, events and initiatives which support the growth of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and education in the West Midlands.

The Millennium Point Scholarship is an annual competition in partnership with Birmingham City University which awards a fully funded undergraduate degree at the faculty of Computing, Engineering, and the Built Environment. Now in its seventh year, we look at some of the finalists in this year’s competition.

Asima, 37, is currently studying Social Science and Humanities at Dudley College, with the aim to read for a degree in Planning at Birmingham City University (BCU).

“I want to go into this area because I worked for 12 years in planning, and I was inspired by the planning officers and senior planners,” she explains. The amount of work they do and what they bring to the community – from putting it on paper to going out into the community and seeing it all come to life, and the people you meet, the local businesses and neighbours you talk to, it’s amazing. I’m inspired.”

She adds: “Winning the scholarship would mean a helping hand towards my career, and my future.

“If, however, I was not to win, it was an experience, an opportunity to go out there and express myself and be noticed and be known, so whether I win or not, it’s still a great opportunity to be here.

“After I finish my degree, I want to start looking for work and once I look for work, I don’t want to stop there – I want to carry on; do my post graduate, do my master’s and go as high as I can. Planning has many opportunities; during my time in planning I’ve noticed there are many opportunities and there’s a long way to go – this is just the start. I’m a fighter, I carry on, so it will be hard but I’m not going to stop.”

“People should apply for the 2022 scholarship because it’s an opportunity; it’s very rare that you get a helping hand like this. If somebody is offering to help you and the opportunity is there, why not?”

For more information on the scholarship competition, or how to apply, please visit www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/scholarship

“The scholarship process built my confidence greatly. The scholarship has lessened the financial pressure of studying for a degree, and has meant that I can invest more in learning equipment.” – Laura Avis, 2019 scholarship winner

Each year Millennium Point pay for the tuition fees of one young person to pursue a STEM related degree at Birmingham City University (BCU). This is part of the ongoing work of the Millennium Point Charitable Trust to support the growth of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and education in greater Birmingham and the West Midlands.

MEET LAURA

After receiving an email from UCAS highlighting the opportunity to win a scholarship to fund course tuition fees for the Film Production Technology (BSc) course at BCU, Laura, from Redditch, registered for the Millennium Point Scholarship back in 2019 – and became the lucky recipient that year. Now in her second year, Laura is a star student and active member of the Birmingham City University student body. Upon her graduation in 2022, Laura has aspirations to pursue her career in film production.

On why she chose this particular university: “I chose BCU because of its locality to me and the amazing film facilities it has to offer. I had visited the studios once before and saw how much dedicated and professional space and equipment had been given to the film and VFX courses. Much of the equipment is very specialist and high-end also, such as the MILO rig, green screen studio and foley recording studios. BCU is only one of a limited number of universities in the country that offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Film, which makes the course content extremely unique and specialist.”

LAURA’S STORY

“The chance to have such an incredible opportunity directly related to the course I wanted to study was something that I just couldn’t let pass by,” says Laura, who studied for her A-Levels at Bournville College, Birmingham. I knew that it would be a competitive process, so I didn’t think that I would get to the final stage, but I knew that I had to try because of how rare an opportunity it was to get all three years of your degree course fully funded.”

“The application process was really straightforward – it was just written answers to three questions about what the scholarship would mean for you, and your passion for your chosen subject.”

Laura presenting at the Live Final in 2019.

“The final was daunting because I had no idea what the other finalists had prepared for their presentations. It was nice sitting with them leading up to the presentations because we were all equally as nervous. For some reason, my actual presentation felt like it wasn’t actually me presenting – I think because I had practised it so much at home it just felt natural and I was able to get through it as if it were just me speaking to myself. Just before I climbed the steps to the stage, a member of the Millennium Point events team wished me good luck and I’ve never forgotten that – I am so grateful for them saying what they said right at that moment!”

“The sense of relief when I finished the presentation was immense as it was months of hard work and fear paid off. I was not expecting to win the scholarship, so for me just getting through the presentation and having that chance to say what I wanted to say about the subject that I am passionate about was the best feeling.”

Laura, who is due to graduate in 2022, adds: “The scholarship process built my confidence greatly, and it has lessened the financial pressure of studying for a degree, and meant that I can invest more in learning equipment. The support that Millennium Point has given me, both throughout the scholarship process and since the final, has been so encouraging for my studies.

“It’s also helped me feel included and important – knowing that someone believes in you is a great encouragement to have. During my studies they have also made me aware of film-related events happening at Millennium Point. I also attended last year’s final, which provided me with a great insight into upcoming West Midlands talent and also the range of STEM courses that the Millennium Point Scholarship supports.”

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Thinking ahead to the future, Laura says: “I am very passionate about pursuing a career in the film and television industries. During my course, I have been able to explore many of the different roles involved in film production, and I have become enthusiastic about sound design, graphic design and screenwriting. Once I complete my studies, I will be looking for job opportunities within these fields and I am so excited to take those first steps towards a creative career. I am always looking for projects and productions to be involved with during my time at university to further my love of and experience in the industry.

Laura alongside Millennium Point’s Executive team Rebecca Delmore (Left), Abbie Vlahakis (Middle) and Linda Degg (Right)

ADVICE FOR APPLICANTS

“My advice for anyone thinking of applying for the scholarship would be to definitely apply now. It is a life-changing opportunity that you cannot miss if your course is eligible to receive the scholarship. Ignore any self-doubt about applying, and don’t be afraid of what the final may consist of. Show your passion towards the work that you have created related to your subject in your application, even if it’s small – any passion is still passion.”

UNLOCK THEIR FUTURE

Millennium Point is helping young people across the region unlock their future. For more information on how to apply or get involved please, visit www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/scholarship

Kari is a young entrepreneur who started her first business at the age of 13, in AI consultancy and development. She now runs an AI youth programme, Youth4Code, working with thousands of young people across the region and beyond, helping them to understand AI and look to careers in STEM.

“STEM is so important to the region because it is so intrinsically linked to everything we do,” she says.

“Literally every day you’re doing something with STEM, and it’s so important especially when we have such a massive skills gap in the region and beyond. We need to firstly understand where we’re using STEM and be able to innovate and create for the future. I think the scholarship is so important, to provide opportunity for everyone to be able to study STEM; it’s something that I am really passionate about – providing that diversity of thought within STEM careers and having that opportunity for everyone to apply and be able to get that degree and learn about STEM.”

“I think for me I’m looking to the candidates for a genuine passion for STEM and technology, a real dedication and interest for the subject beyond what they’ve learned at school, and real proactivity – someone who wants to pursue STEM and really has that passion, dedication and interest.”

For more information on the scholarship competition, or how to apply, please visit www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/scholarship

The Millennium Point Scholarship is an annual competition in partnership with Birmingham City University which awards a fully funded undergraduate degree at the faculty of Computing, Engineering, and the Built Environment. Now in its seventh year, we look at some of the finalists in this year’s competition.

Zain, from Handsworth in Birmingham, is currently studying at Hamstead Hall Academy Sixth Form. He hopes to go to Birmingham City University to study for a degree in Computer Science.

“I want to study the subject because it piqued my interest from a very early age,” he explains.

“Specifically, because I play video games and that interests me a lot; to see what goes on behind the processes. I use a lot technology in general, but that really interested me, and I want to explore the subject in depth.

“I want to maybe go into video games one day and try and replicate the feeling and enjoyment I had playing video games and give it to other people, and maybe make it a passion for them. It’s such an interesting subject, there’s so much stuff you can do like AI; it can change the world, advance it.”

He adds: “STEM is very important to me because they’re subjects that can change the world, and not only do they have high employability and higher pay, but STEM can better people’s lives. Winning the scholarship would mean a great deal to me, as it can give me a boost of motivation and confidence, show me that I can achieve good things and push my goals even further, give me a sense of accomplishment and kickstart my career.”

Zain adds: “After university I’m not really sure what I want to do at the moment, but there are so many options I’m thinking about, such as video games, or something that can make people’s lives better or help change the world – I want to be part of something like that.”

The winner of the 2021 scholarship competition will be announced at the end of May. For more information on the scholarship competition, or how to apply, please visit www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/scholarship

Every year, the Millennium Point Charitable Trust Small Grants programme gives out grants of up to £20,000 to support science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education projects in the West Midlands. Applications are now open for 2021.

Here is one of the many projects that the programme has funded in 2019.

Who’s running the project?

Joseph Leckie Academy is a secondary school located in The Delves area of Walsall in the West Midlands. In 2019, they received a grant from the Millennium Point Charitable Trust which allowed them to purchase 3D printing equipment and associated software and materials.

What’s it all about?

The school was keen to engage children in STEM in ways relevant to the local history of the West Midlands – in this case, the rich heritage of jewellery and manufacturing centred around Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter.

The school wanted to devise a new project which taught 3D printing and computer aided design (CAD) where students designed and created their own jewellery. This would not only teach them STEM skills in an inspiring way, but also reconnects students to Birmingham’s jewellery heritage.

However, prior to the grant, the school was limited in this ambition by lack of resources and outdated equipment which meant little opportunity to explore this element of STEM as part of the wider curriculum

What impact has our grant made?

The project has given students a broad range of design and manufacturing skills, including CAD design, 3D printers and metal casting machines to create jewellery. It has also brought them closer to trades synonymous with the region being jewellery making and manufacturing.

With the printer in situ students get a first-hand experience of a design and make activity and lead them towards considering a STEM-based career, whether that is in manufacturing or design.

In the long term, the Academy has been able to embed practical demonstrations of the 3D printer into schemes of work and open evenings to develop and foster a sense of curiosity and wonder in Design Technology. Students will start to use the 3D printers in their design work to test design thinking, model and evaluate design solutions and ultimately enhance their skills as young designers.

What they said:

Chris Potter, Technology Teacher and leader of the project, said: “It was a delight to receive this grant from the Millennium Point Charitable Trust. 3D printers and CAD design are likely to be a huge part of the future of manufacturing. Giving our students an opportunity to experience in their use first hand is an amazing way to prepare them for STEM jobs of the future right here in the Midlands.”

About educational grant funding from Millennium Point
Educators, Charities and Not-for-Profits within the West Midlands Combined Authority can apply for up to £20,000 from Millennium Point to fund their STEM activity. For more information on how to access this funding please visit www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/grants

“Looking back, I feel really proud of myself, as I would never normally say yes to presenting in front of large groups. I really enjoyed the whole process.” – Sagal Qodah, 2017 scholarship winner

Sagal (Middle) collecting her award alongside 2015 winner Malik (left) and 2016 winner Abi (right)

MEET SAGAL

Sagal won the Millennium Point Scholarship (then called “The Young Innovator Prize”) in 2017, which funded her Civil Engineering course at BCU, and is currently working for Jacobs as a Graduate Geotechnical Engineer, having graduated in 2020 with a First Class Honours degree.

Sagal applied after hearing about the opportunity through her school; in fact, Sagal is the second pupil from Ark St Alban’s Academy in Highgate, Birmingham, to have received the scholarship, as a former pupil also received the funding from Millennium Point two years previously.

On why she chose BCU, Sagal says: “I liked the fact the university buildings were modern and had great laboratories to carry out experiments, compared to other universities. There were a variety of opportunities for me to develop, and, as a civil engineer, it was an exciting prospect to see the development of the city, along with the enabling works of HS2 over the three years of my course.”

Sagal with MPT Chairman, Simon Topman at the Live Final

SAGAL’S STORY

When asked why Sagal decided to apply, she says: “I did think about going abroad to study in Denmark at one point, but when I heard about the chance to have my tuition fees paid for and completely taken care of, it did make me rethink, and the financial assistance provided by the scholarship is the main reason I applied.

“The application process itself was easy and simple, and I was fortunate enough to have help from my careers advisor too, which made everything even smoother.”

While the 2021 final is a virtual one, Sagal reflects on her experience in 2017, when it was a live final in front of a panel of judges and audience of over 200 people: “It was nerve-wracking as I had never presented to or spoken in front of that many people before, and I did find it challenging beforehand when deciding what to include and how to structure my presentation, as well as preparing for any questions that I may have to answer. However, I had the encouragement and support from my friends and teachers which made the process and the evening itself less stressful.

“Looking back, I feel really proud of myself, as I would never normally say yes to presenting in front of large groups. I really enjoyed the whole process.”

Thinking about how the Millennium Point scholarship has benefited her, Sagal explains: “It has allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and in turn, it has meant that my confidence has increased – something which was incredibly valuable to me as I was starting university not knowing anyone. Through the scholarship and support from Millennium Point, I’ve been able to increase my network, have been given access to industry events, and I’ve also been provided with help and guidance when needed.

“For anyone thinking about applying for the scholarship, I would advise making the most of the process and don’t doubt yourself, as anything is possible if you put your mind to it.”

UNLOCK THEIR FUTURE

Millennium Point is helping young people across the region unlock their future. For more information on how to apply or get involved please, visit www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/scholarship

Here is one of the many projects that the programme has funded in 2020:

Who’s running the project?
City Road Primary School is situated in the Rotton Park area of north Edgbaston.

What’s it all about?
With support from Millennium Point Charitable Trust, City Road Primary School will create a Sensory Garden for its Early Years pupils. The EYFS (early years foundation stage) outdoor area has been chosen as the dedicated space for this project.

To start the project KS2 children will create designs based on given criteria (outline of the area, needs of children in Early Years, budget and safety aspects). The winning design will be a combination of ideas from children in each KS2 year group. The garden will feature plants (herbs and flowers), solar panel lighting, wind chimes, suncatchers, mirrors and birdhouses. Building raised beds for fruit and vegetables is also included in the project with room for expansion for a solar water feature, a seating area for quiet time and a colourful path linking all the areas depending on budget. The design aspect of this project will build pride in the school and children will hopefully develop a great sense of ownership for the development of the garden.

The sensory garden will provide a great stimulus for developing communication, social skills and an understanding of the world. The design and build of this project will promote STEM throughout the school and community and create a sustainable area which will support teaching and learning for all children as part of the Early Years outdoor learning strand and KS1 and 2’s Science curriculum. This should inspire children’s aspirations and understanding of STEM careers.

Who will benefit?
All pupils at City Road Primary will benefit. The Early Years children will have daily use of this exciting learning space to develop communication and social skills, while older children in other year groups will have a sense of responsibility as they will have time to maintain the area in the future. Sessions in the sensory garden will be embedded in the school’s curriculum, thereby ensuring that it will form part of the teaching of STEM subjects in subsequent academic years.

What they said:
Sarvjeet Jandu, Assistant Head Teacher, commented: “We are so excited about this project. A high percentage of our children are from a minority ethnic background within a socially deprived area. In the locality, there is a growing number of families living in overcrowded houses with no outdoor space and as a result, some of these children have little or no experience of growing plants outdoors or of the natural world. This project will expose them to new experiences which they would not otherwise have, understanding sustainability, growing and the importance of outdoor learning through play.

“Many of the KS2 students involved in the design of the garden have younger siblings in reception and nursery and will remember and discuss their time in the same area. The Sensory Garden will emphasise how we are linking learning across the school and promote the excellent work the children have done.”

When’s it all happening?
A grand opening will be planned during the early summer months to unveil the Sensory Garden. Once built, KS2 children will maintain the area and be responsible for its upkeep, as part of their science curriculum.

Millennium Point is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of STEM education in Birmingham and the West Midlands. We achieve this through impactful projects such as our fully funded STEM scholarship and STEM grant funding, events, support initiatives and so much more. With British Science Week upon us, we’re here to celebrate with 3 activities you can do with your family at home to celebrate.

What’s British Science Week?
British Science Week is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) that takes place annually around March. This year British Science Week started on 5th March and will continue until this Sunday (14th March) with the theme “Innovating for the Future”. Across the UK schools, parents, teachers and organisations are taking part in a myriad of activities that engage communities in STEM, highlight the importance of STEM in our daily lives and celebrate the achievements and diversity of STEM leaders. You can get involved with activities or events that are already planned via the official website or organise one yourself. The activities in the list below have all been chosen from the free activity packs that are available on their website here.

Crunchy Architecture You Can Eat – (Activity for under 5s)

This activity uses melted chocolate as cement and a variety of different biscuits to get your child to construct buildings or structures which you can all then eat. To start, melt your chocolate in a bowl, either in the microwave or in a bowl on top of a pan of boiling water. Once melted use the chocolate to stick biscuits together to make buildings and structures. When the kids are done with the activity they can then eat their creations. This activity takes about 30 minutes overall. The video below provides a great demonstration of the activity.

(Video Credit: Dennis Fresto)

Kit list

Different shaped biscuits/and or wafers and crackers
Dark chocolate
Bowl, water and saucepan
Baking paper
Hob/Microwave

What does this teach?
This activity teaches children about architectural design – chiefly about how materials can be combined, shaped and measured to form structures. It teaches them to think creatively and innovatively with tools at their disposal. What’s more, you can expand this activity to emphasise the STEM elements by getting them to plan out what they want to make, cut biscuits to size and shape and then reflect on whether the finished product changed from the initial design and why.

This activity is an example of sensory learning where children link their learning to memorable activities and experiences – the messier the better! Sensory learning is a crucial part of early years development as it effectively engages children in activities that activate their brain. This allows them to break down difficult topics, like architectural design, into concepts they can comprehend. They will then be able to refer back to what they’ve learned because they can recall the experience of the activity.

Build a working Waterwheel – (Activity for over 5s)

In this activity, you build a working waterwheel. Use a plate to draw and cut out two circles in a thick card or plasticard to make the wheels of your waterwheel. Find the centre of each wheel and cut a smaller hole wide enough to fit a pencil or wooden doweling. Tape or staple the cups to one of the wheels put the second wheel on top to sandwich the cups and secure by pushing the wooden spoke/pencil through the hole in the centre of both. You can now experiment with dropping water from different heights or with greater force to see how it affects the speed of the weel. You determine the speed of the wheel by marking a point on the wheel and counting the number of rotations within 30 seconds.

(Video credit: Two-Point-Four)

Kit List

Thick card or plasticard
Pen/Pencil
Plate (to use as a template)
Wooden Doweling or a pencil (to spin the wheel)
Disposable cups (choose recyclable!)
Scissors
Adhesive
Bottled water/hose or equivalent to dropping water
Bucket / Washing up bowl (or be outside)

What does this teach?
This experiment has a lot to teach about forces and energy in a fun and engaging way. They will learn about how height, gravity and force impact the wheel by dropping water at different heights and with different degrees of force. This is also a great segway into discussing sustainable energy, like the electricity in your house and how these types of mechanism can be used to create sustainable energy. The waterwheel was used historically to power machinery in Victorian mills, using the force of the water cascading down to generate push and pull forces. Now, a similar wheel mechanism is used to generate sustainable electricity with methods like wind and wave power.

Making hot ice – (Activity for over 5s)

In this activity you will create a substance that is liquid at room temperature and but when disturbed will immediately crystallise to form something known as “hot ice”. This is a really fun experiment that doesn’t require a lot to do but has a real “wow” factor when you see the liquid immediately crystalise. To do it, slowly add 3-4 tablespoons of baking powder to 1 litre of clear vinegar and then leave to boil for 30 minutes. When you see a crust starts to form (white stuff known as sodium acetate anhydrous), scoop a bit out and save then take the liquid off the heat and transfer to a container and cover. Transfer to an ice bath or fridge for 15 minutes or until it drops below room temperature. Once cooled take the lid off, add the sodium acetate anhydrous (white stuff you collected earlier) and watch as the liquid crystalises. When you touch it, it will feel hot, not cold – hence hot ice!

(video credit: Home Science)

Kit List

1 litre clear (not malt) vinegar
4 tbsp baking soda
Steel saucepan
Plastic container
Bucket and ice (if doing an ice bath)

What does this teach?
This activity teaches children about chemical states and reactions. Most substances have a freezing point, where the molecules rearrange from a liquid into a solid or crystal arrangement. Sodium acetate trihydrate, or hot ice, is a supercool liquid, which means even though it’s a liquid at room temperature, the molecules will rearrange into solid form when disturbed (by adding sodium acetate). As the sodium acetate is introduced, the liquid will begin to crystallise and after a few seconds the entire liquid will ‘freeze’. However, if you touch it, the substance will feel hot, not cold, because the process of crystallisation is exothermic. That means that heat is given off, so the liquid turns into a solid.

That’s it for our 3 STEM Activities to Celebrate British Science Week. The activities in the list below have all been chosen from the free activity packs that are available on their website here. We hope you enjoy British Science Week and don’t forget to share your results with us on social media by tagging @millenniumpoint!

Every year, the Millennium Point Charitable Trust gives out grants of up to £20,000 to support science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education projects in the West Midlands. Applications are now open for 2021. Meadows Primary School and Resource Base received a grant in 2020 to transform dilapidated school grounds into an engaging outdoor science area. This is their story.

Who’s running the project?
The Meadows Primary School and Resource Base is a three-form entry primary school in Northfield, Birmingham. The children are aged between four and 11 years with 45% of the pupils being disadvantaged children who receive free school meals and grow up in challenging circumstances. Additionally, 24% of children have Special Educational Needs (SEN) requiring specialist supported learning.

What’s it all about?
The existing woodland area around the school has become run down and unusable due to limited school funding. Apart from a small playground, there are no outdoor areas, such as playing fields, other than this dilapidated area. The grant from Millennium Point Charitable Trust will fund the development of a pond and wildlife area within the school grounds. The objective is to enable the children to immerse themselves in the local environment while learning about biological and life sciences outside of the traditional classroom environment. This will prove especially important for those children with learning difficulties, enabling the school to provide more dynamic lessons using the external spaces to better suit their learning needs. The funds will also help pay for den building kits, wellington boots and all-in-ones for the children – an outlay that many families simply can’t afford.

Who will benefit?
This project will benefit the whole school, including the children in the resource base (which is integrated within the mainstream school), who have speech and language disorders. They sometimes have additional needs such as dyslexia, autism, ADHD, physical difficulties, sensory impairments or social and emotional development.

What they said:
Alex Morris, the school’s science coordinator: “Science is a major part of what we do in every single curriculum and year group, and this project will have a huge impact on the children in our care. Due to the parents’ financial constraints, the children have very limited experiences of habitats beyond their own street. They don’t experience what a lot of children do, like walks in the countryside.

“The grant will enable the children to develop their vocabulary of plants and animals beyond the classroom walls. Developing this project would benefit every year group and vastly impact the children’s progress and attainment.

“Due to home circumstances, many children within the school have mental health problems, so they need a great deal of emotional support, and providing an area for calm reflection when they feel overwhelmed would vastly benefit the children in our care.

“We also hope this project will inspire and encourage the traditionally marginalised groups, such as the children in our resource base, to pursue STEM careers in the future; opening up a range of possibilities and develop the children’s confidence to pursue these careers in the future.”

When’s it all happening?
It is hoped that the wildlife area will be ready in Spring 2021; the pool will be created by the Summer, pandemic restrictions pending.

Can grant funding unlock your STEM project?
There’s still time to apply for funding from the Millennium Point Charitable trust this year. Applications must be submitted by 5 pm on 30th November 2020. To apply for the Millennium Point Charitable Trust Small Grants programme 2021, visit: www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/grants/apply