Lanarkshire Lift-Off

Children from across North Lanarkshire have joined forces with Nil by Mouth to learn more about equality whilst honing their employability skills.

During March the charity has united more than two hundred children from Airdrie, Cleland, Cumbernauld and Mossend through its STEM Together project which brings denominational and non-denominational schools together to work, learn and play.

The programme provides schools free access to state of the art kits which enhance children’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) abilities as well as offering classroom workshops looking at different religious and cultural identities in Scotland. 

The STEM element is supported by the Conundrum Trust and sees pupils work in small teams in 70‑minute sessions using MTA STEM kits which emphasise visual learning, collaboration and problem‑solving, with activities designed to appeal to a wide range of learning styles. Pupils are assigned specific roles within their teams to encourage participation and highlight the importance of working together to solve problems.

Participating schools where Cleland & St Mary’s Primaries, Holy Family & Mossend Primaries, Old Monkland & St Monica’s Primaries and St Margret of Scotland & Carbrain Primaries.

North Lanarkshire Council also threw its weight behind the programme with support from its staff and teenage STEM Ambassadors drawn from local high schools.

Nil by Mouth Partnership Manager Emma Alexander said:

‘We have long standing relationships with many schools across North Lanarkshire and are always looking at ways to enhance our work and provide children with the opportunity to come together to better understand difference. Schools such as Mossend and Holy Family have been working with us for fifteen years now but for St Margaret of Scotland Primary this was the first taste of what we do. It was amazing to see the children work so effectively with one another and respond so positively to our workshops where we look at the impact of sectarianism on society.  We are grateful to the STEM Team at North Lanarkshire Council for their support in making this programme come alive and we will be back with another round of visits in the year.’