Wednesday, 11 November 2026
Tina recently dropped in on a STEM Venturi workshop in Hilton, where students are learning science, technology, engineering, and math by designing and building their own skateboards.
Tina highlights the incredible work of the EngineerED Labs programme, which has just received a £15,000 funding boost from the Sanjay Mortimer Foundation to support neurodivergent and home-educated young people aged 11 to 16.
Session leader Mark Selby explains the heavy engineering involved in creating an everyday object that captures the students' imaginations.
Founder Holly Davies shares the inspiring story behind the initiative, discussing how the six-week courses use electronics, CAD modelling, and rapid prototyping to help young people build low self-esteem into newfound confidence.
She explains the importance of providing these opportunities outside of mainstream schools and outlines the organisation's future goals, including securing more funding to partner with local engineering companies in Derby to expand the courses into even more communities.