Young people from coastal communities in the UK are set to share in a £1m investment from Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
In a programme being developed in partnership with local authorities in the North and North East of England, a total of £1m has been allocated during the construction of the wind farm, to put science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) at the heart of children’s education.
Additional community funding will be allocated throughout the operational phase of the wind farm.
This construction fund will initially focus on the areas of East Riding of Yorkshire, where the wind farm will connect to the National Grid, and South Tyneside, where the O&M base will be located.
The programme has been developed with local skills and education stakeholders to ensure it meets local priorities with a focus on early years in East Riding of Yorkshire, and primary to secondary school transition in South Tyneside.
All 124 primary schools in East Riding of Yorkshire and all 18 secondary schools in South Tyneside will have the chance to increase and expand their current science, technology, engineering and maths provision.
Both areas will also look to use the support to enhance their career advice services for school leavers.
Plans are still being drawn up for how the programme will support youngsters in the Redcar and Cleveland area, where the third phase of the wind farm will connect to the National Grid at Lackenby. These will be confirmed when the third phase, Dogger Bank C, reaches its final investment decision later this year.
In addition to enhancing STEM provision in the classroom, during the construction of the wind farm 50 students from these areas will receive a scholarship to help with the cost of further education qualifications while studying STEM subjects.