Up to 6,000 young people across the UK will benefit from inspirational STEM-inspired youth programmes as part of a new £50,000 partnership between the Jon Egging Trust and BAE Systems.
Working in collaboration with local schools in Dorset, Lincolnshire, East Anglia, North Wales and Hampshire, the bespoke programmes will support young people from vulnerable backgrounds, particularly those at risk of dropping out of education, to provide long-term support and access to inspirational teams and individuals to boost confidence, academic engagement, aspiration and work-readiness.
Jon Egging Trust works with local schools to identify students to participate in the programme, including those living below the poverty line, those who have experienced trauma, young carers, Service children and those with special educational needs.
Cliff Robson, Group Managing Director, BAE Systems Air said: “We’re excited about our expanded collaboration with the Jon Egging Trust, and making a difference to the young people in the local communities near our BAE Systems sites and bases. We’re committed to helping everyone reach their full potential and supporting those who need our support the most.”
Dr Emma Egging, CEO of the Jon Egging Trust said: “Our corporate partnerships are vital to making our long-term programmes possible. By giving access to unique opportunities and workplaces linked to STEM and employability; inspirational employees who are willing to volunteer their time to work with our students; and funding to make our work sustainable, BAE Systems is ensuring the longevity of our impactful work with young people.
“We have worked with BAE Systems’ fantastic team at RAF Valley in North Wales since 2015 to support our local JET students, but this is the first time we have been able to access funding for our programmes and be given wider access to BAE Systems’ incredible team of STEM ambassadors across the UK. It’s hard to overstate the impact that this will have on over 6,000 JET students who will benefit from this new partnership in 2022, and we are hugely grateful to the team at BAE Systems for its ongoing support.”
More than 16 schools are expected to benefit from the partnership through programmes which seek to empower young people to re-engage with education and progress into meaningful employment.
Over the last 10 years, Jon Egging Trust has supported 32,000 young people through STEM-based motivational, inspirational and confidence building programmes, in partnership with schools and youth organisations across the UK.
This includes programmes in North Wales where BAE Systems volunteers based at RAF Valley have contributed to the engagement of up to 1,000 students each year, with young people reporting a 90% improvement in their communication skills confidence and an 80% improvement in their ability to stay focused and work with others.
The first engagement as part of the expanded partnership took place at BAE Systems’ site in Christchurch with Queen Elizabeth’s School from Wimborne, where students took part in interactive workshops to develop their teamwork, leadership and employability skills.
ENDS