A new toolkit has been launched by Science Ceilidh in the culmination of the Curiosity in Action Project. The project created valuable links between science researchers and youth work organisations, enabling young people to engage directly with academics.
The Curiosity in Action project highlighted the value of partnership working, with youth work organisations being matched with the researcher, then a working relationship over either one or two years.
The toolkit provides a range of resources including insights into how to find the right STEM partner and a template for a partnership working agreement.
It also includes a set of STEM activities for youth workers, designed in the course of the project and ideas and information to support researchers working with youth groups.
Hilary Phillips, Senior Development Officer for Digital Youth Work at YouthLink Scotland said,:
“The toolkit is a fantastic output from an altogether excellent programme of work and one that we are delighted to have been partners in. The team at Science Ceilidh have done an outstanding job in exploring how to build positive relationships between youth work organisations and science researcher and clearly everyone involved has benefit.
“Most significantly the project provides strong evidence that a youth work setting is a valuable route for young people who might not otherwise connect with Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, to meet people who are directly involved and see how it connects with their own interests.”
As partners on this project YouthLink Scotland were able to support around an approach to evaluation which recognises youth work outcomes and skills.
The project was funded by the Science and Technology Funding Council.