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Home / Latest News / 2008 / 5 / 7 /

Explore-At-Bristol Reaches Out

 

Explore-At-Bristol working with community groupsThis spring Explore-At-Bristol is working to strengthen its links with Bristol's community organisations.

Its new Supplementary Schools Project, existing Bursary Scheme and Family Learning Project are enabling schools and community groups who would not normally access at-Bristol to take part in exciting and inspiring programmes designed to actively encourage and develop science learning.

The most recent visit by Bristol's African Caribbean and Caribbean Heritage Raising Attainment (AC & CHAP) project in partnership with Erondu, was the culmination of a five day project for thirty students. Along with their parents, they spent a day in Explore, visiting the exhibits, taking part in a Fizz, Whizz, Bang science workshop and evaluating all the activities they had experienced in their week.

Shirelle Gayle, Primary Schools Co-ordinator at AC & CHAP, said: 'The visit to Explore was the perfect end to a brilliant week which left parents and our students motivated, inspired and engaged in family learning. This form of complimentary learning really helps to tackle the deep rooted reasons for underachievement in schools.'

Explore-At-Bristol continually strives to make science accessible for all. Community Engagement Officer, Jo Bryant explains, 'Our outreach projects help to break down the barriers that prevent many schools and community groups from visiting Explore. Our learning programme is second to none. It provides hands-on, minds-on science education in an informal setting and we are delighted to be able to offer it to a much wider audience than we would otherwise come into contact with.

She continues, 'The projects offer both fully and part-funded visits to groups and the Bursary Scheme which has been running for 5 years has allowed 15000 people visit entirely free of charge so far. Feedback from all our community projects shows that participants leave inspired with a new, more positive attitude to science. It's great to be able to offer this kind of experience to people who would, under other circumstances be unable to experience it.'

The Supplementary Schools Project is supported by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the Bursary Scheme in funded by Northgate and the Family Learning Project is supported by the Big Lottery fund.

Explore-At-Bristol is a registered charity. Since opening in 2000 it has welcomed approaching four million visitors through its doors. Community groups or schools wishing to find out more about funded visits should contact Jo Bryant on jo.Bryant@at-bristol.org.uk <mailto:jo.Bryant@at-bristol.org.uk> or 0117 915 7122. For more information on Explore-At-Bristol, visit the web site www.at-bristol.org.uk <http://www.at-bristol.org.uk>.