Platten Family Fund

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Investing in young people across Newcastle and Northumberland

The Community Foundation North East matches generous people with important community causes. Every year, the Community Foundation awards grants to hundreds of small charities in Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, and across North East England, through funds set up by a range of donors.

Many grants made from the Platten Family Fund at the Community Foundation are about supporting young people to consider – and be ready for – careers in engineering and other science and technology-based professions. Generous multi-year funding from the Fund to EDT is enabling young people across Newcastle and Northumberland to hone their skills through mentored, team challenges, and a Routes Into STEM course which explores the pathways – vocational and academic – into STEM careers.

Impact

Outcomes reporting and feedback from participants has shown that the project is achieving its aims to inspire young people into STEM careers and help them to develop the skills they’ll need to thrive in them:

  • 92% of the Routes Into STEM students said they were likely to study STEM after GCSEs 
  • 96% felt more confident that anyone can have a career in STEM
  • 96% felt the course helped them to develop their problem-solving skills
  • 76% felt more connected to employers in their local area after completing the course
  • 88% felt it helped them develop teamwork skills

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    Over three years, 189 young people will benefit from taking part, becoming an Industrial Cadet at Bronze or Gold level. A commitment to multi-year funding has been particularly valuable. It’s meant that young people have the opportunity to take part in multiple STEM experiences – which can lead to improved outcomes - and it’s given us the opportunity to become embedded in school communities, helping them to develop relationships with local industry, volunteers, and colleges and universities that will have sustained benefits.

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    Testimonial

    “We’re lucky to have the opportunity to manage a Fund that is dedicated to supporting (particularly young) people to explore STEM. The region’s heritage is intertwined with STEM and has so much potential in this area for the future. Grants such as that provided to EDT help to tap into this potential, which we hope will not only benefit the region in the long-term, but support the broadening of horizons of individual beneficiaries too.”

    Ross Wilson, Senior Philanthropy Advisor at the Community Foundation

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