Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA), in conjunction with Winchester Science Centre, has created LifeLines, an exciting new educational programme for young people aged 11-18 that will inspire them to pursue STEM subjects such as aviation, medical innovation, physics, mathematics and engineering.
By highlighting the day-to-day activities of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance Critical Care Team, the skills they need to do their job and the technical aspects of the helicopter, LifeLines will offer young people an understanding of real world applications of STEM subjects.
The UK currently has a shortage of people pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers. A study commissioned by the Royal Academy of Engineering found that British industry will need 100,000 new graduates in STEM subjects every year until 2020 just to maintain current employment numbers.
Neil Strowger, Chief Executive Officer of Bohunt Education Trust said:
“We are really proud of our innovative STEM focused curriculum and we are delighted to be hosting the launch of LifeLines on 6th October. LifeLines will support young people across the region to develop team work, creativity and other key skills required for a career in STEM. Furthermore, the programme is an excellent way to breakdown stereotypes associated with STEM careers.”
By providing STEM resources and activities that motivate and inspire, LifeLines will bring learning to life in schools and youth groups across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Classroom projects developed by the HIOWAA Critical Care Team will link directly to the Key Stage 3 curriculum, with a Mission Planning Project testing pupil’s knowledge of mathematics and science and a Lung Trauma Task bringing the biology curriculum to life.
HIOWAA Schools and Youth Coordinator, Joanna Hennessey said:
“The very nature of the day to day work of the HIOWAA Critical Care team creates multiple learning opportunities to inspire young people in STEM subjects and future careers. These young people are the Critical Care teams or Helicopter Engineers of the future”.
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LifeLines will also encourage young people to develop life skills that will help to prepare them for the future, such as communication, teamwork and problem solving. Young people will take part in the LifeLines Challenge, a four-step challenge that will begin with a one-hour interactive presentation by the charity and culminate in a visit to the HIOWAA airbase in Thruxton. To complete the challenge, participants will be asked to create a short video about the work of the Air Ambulance and to undertake a fundraising project in their local community.
Joanna Hennessey added:
“Our pilots, doctors and paramedics are fantastic role-models for our future generation. What better way to inspire young people than to introduce them to our life-saving crew, who have professionalism, openness, dedication and team work at the heart of everything they do”.
The launch of LifeLines follows the success of the Charity’s ‘Be a 999 Hero’ education programme designed to teach children aged 3-11 about how to respond in an emergency and to highlight the importance of the Air Ambulance and other emergency services. The ‘Be a 999 Hero’ education programme has now reached over 35,000 across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
