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Community Foundation North East awarded £65,553 in multi-year funding to the Engineering Development Trust (EDT) through the Platten Family Fund, helping more than 180 students from 12 North East schools explore pathways into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The sustained nature of the funding has been central to the project’s success. It has enabled EDT to build stronger relationships with schools and embed participation into their students’ timetables. As schools became more familiar with the programme, its delivery also became less resource-intensive, allowing EDT staff to devote more time to supporting students in the classroom.
Through this funding model, EDT has been able to deliver established interventions including ‘Routes Into STEM‘. The three-day programme introduces students to academic and vocational routes into STEM careers through visits to a college, a university and a STEM company.
Of those who attended the latest programme, 62% came from communities within the two most deprived Index of Multiple Deprivation deciles. Girls accounted for 51% of participants, compared with women making up only 28% of the STEM workforce.
The funding also enabled EDT to pilot destination tracking, helping the organisation understand what participants went on to do after completing its mentored projects. Of the students tracked, 92% took a concrete next step into STEM. This included choosing STEM-based GCSEs, progressing to A Levels or further education, applying to university, or securing a STEM apprenticeship or job.
Because EDT’s relationships with schools were already well established, following up with students was easier and could be embedded within the school community. The organisation now aims to introduce destination tracking across its work during the next academic year.
Ross Wilson, Senior Philanthropy Advisor at the Community Foundation North East, said:
“Multi-year funding gives organisations the stability and confidence to plan ahead, strengthen partnerships and to focus their resources where they can make the greatest difference. The Platten Family Fund’s support has enabled EDT to become embedded in school communities, reach young people who remain underrepresented in STEM and build a clearer picture of the programme’s long-term impact.”
Liz Thomas, Philanthropic Partnerships Manager at EDT, added:
“The Platten Family Fund’s multi-year support has enabled us not only to deliver inspiring STEM experiences for young people, but also to understand their longer-term impact. Through destination tracking of students who took part in our mentored projects, we found that 92% took a concrete next step into STEM education, training, or employment. This demonstrates the powerful difference sustained funding can make, giving charities the confidence to invest in communities, build lasting relationships with schools and other local partners, and generate meaningful evidence of impact.”
Through the Platten Family Fund, Community Foundation North East is demonstrating how sustained support can help organisations deepen local partnerships, improve delivery and produce meaningful evidence of lasting change.