The Aluminium Federation through its partnership with the Bloodhound Education charity has sponsored the two projects designed to get children excited about aluminium, raise awareness of its properties, benefits and key role in contributing to sustainable living.
The ALFED resources are continuing to be popular with teachers as a live project resource. In the period January – April 2022, the Bloodhound ALFED projects have an estimated reach of over 11,000 children. This is based on new schools accessing the resources and likely to be much higher with schools who use it as an annual STEM activity.
50% of these were schools who accessed the updated Key Stage 3 version of Aluminium Desert Wheels booklet. This is an interactive booklet with QR codes linking to videos and further information.
The original Key Stage 2 Aluminium Desert Wheels project, which first ran as a competition in 2018, is still being utilised alongside the Sustainable Tools project.
Although the Car project itself has been on-hold due to Covid, the education legacy continues and project like Bloodhound demonstrating innovative technology and materials including aluminium are a great way to show case them.
Bloodhound Education have also recently completed a programme of workshops for 300 home schooled children and their parents who very much enjoyed accessing these projects and being able to see examples of the equipment and materials at the Bloodhound Education Centre. This project was funded by the Engineering Grant Scheme co-sponsored by the IET and IMechE. The places were snapped up within three hours of being made available.
Bloodhound Education are currently looking for funding to be able to offer more of these types of programmes to the increasing number of home school groups post-Covid. They would welcome support from any ALFED members and the wider manufacturing industry.
For more information please contact ALFED training and education manager Kathy Romback: kromback@alfed.org.uk
