Build-A-Plane project gets underway this winter!
AERO Space Scientific Educational Trust (ASSET) and Kinross High School take delivery of a Eurofox kit plane, today (23.11.17), as the exciting KHS ‘Build-A-Plane’ project gets underway.
The ASSET ‘Build-A-Plane’ project aims to give local Kinross High School pupils an opportunity to help assemble a real aeroplane from a full-size kit and to encourage their interest in pursuing STEM subjects and make a clear link between the project and STEM* education from the outset.
Chair of ASSET, Alisdair Stewart, said: “This forms a first and significant element of our overall strategy to create the Aero Space Kinross science and space centre in the area. We see the educational link as a vitally important one and encourage young people in the area to study with a STEM career in mind.”
The plane will be housed at Kinross High School where a team of school-children will learn about all aspects of flight including assembling and subsequently flying the two-seater plane in the Summer of 2018.
Commenting on the delivery of the kit plane at Kinross High School. Headteacher, Sarah Brown, said: “We are delighted to forge a direct connection between Aero Space Kinross and our school through the Build-A-Plane project. I can honestly say there is a lot of excitement today in being the first school to take part and it will be a very proud moment for us all when the plane takes off.
Headteacher, Sarah Brown, added: “Encouraging an interest in STEM subjects, is vital to the educational success of our young people and there can be no better way than applying theory to practice by building a plane in our school grounds.”
In addition, Air Service Training Ltd, Perth College, University of the Highlands, and Islands will be involved in providing pupils with workshops covering hands-on engineering skills development, health and safety briefing, a hangar visit and aeronautics theory.
The whole project has been made possible with financial support from Rural Perth & Kinross LEADER Programme 2014-2020: The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas. A grant of £30,000 for the Kinross High School (KHS) Build-a-Plane project has been offered to match £30,000 of funding, ASSET raised through its recent crowdfunding project.
New appointment news of first ASK fundraising manager
Delivery of the plane comes alongside further exciting news with the employment of Donna Hegarty, Aero Space Kinross’ first fundraising manager who joins the team in January to undertake the major capital fundraising programme.
Donna, who is a highly skilled fundraiser, joins ASK with a wealth of Third Sector, charity, and corporate fundraising expertise over many years. She has worked with local government in the environmental health sector, Keep Scotland Beautiful and was instrumental in growing the organisation from five to 100 employees working with every local authority in Scotland. Donna enjoys a challenge and has overseen fundraising for the new £4m Kilbryde Hospice in the past, and for the last two years has worked with Venture Scotland.
Donna Hegarty added: “I like to start small and be involved in growing projects to full strength and I am looking forward to securing funds to build a real asset for the local Kinross and wider Scottish community. This is a stellar opportunity for me and I am delighted to be on board.”
An open general meeting will be held on Friday 24th November 2017, 7 pm to outline significant successes to members and next steps for the overall project.
ENDS
About ASSET and Aero Space Kinross
* STEM subjects include Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. The phrase STEM education is used to highlight the importance of these subjects in curriculum choices in schools today.
ASSET is a Community Benefit Society community-led, controlled and operated for the benefit of Kinross-shire and the community it serves. Aero Space Kinross is a tremendous opportunity for the residents of Kinross-shire and beyond that will bring huge economic, educational and tourism benefits to the area, as well as providing locals, Scots, and visitors alike with a unique flight-themed science and space centre.
Aero Space Kinross is a wholly owned subsidiary of Community Benefit Society, Aero Space Scientific Educational Trust. Scottish Charity No. SC045931
For more information on how to support and be a part of this unique experience go to: http://www.aerospacekinross.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aerospacekinross
For further project and community share offer information please contact: Alisdair Stewart: alisdair@aerospacekinross.com
For further press information, images and interviews please contact Fiona Stewart: Fiona@aerospacekinross.com Mob: 07940560453
About the Rural Perth and Kinross LEADER Fund
The new LEADER, (‘Liaison Entre Actions de Développement de l’Économie Rurale’), Rural Development programme for Perth and Kinross was launched on Thursday 14 January 2016.
Approximately £3.8 million of EU and Scottish Government SRDP (Scottish Rural Development Programme) funding is being invested in the local area between 2014 and 2020, bringing a boost to communities and the rural economy.
The funding will be directed towards the priorities identified in the Rural Perth and Kinross LEADER Programme Development Strategy and Business Plan, with the aim of helping to create a long-term legacy of vibrant, healthy and inclusive rural communities. The priorities include Community Capacity Building, Rural Broadband, Youth Initiatives, Farm Diversification, Rural Enterprise and there are Open Challenge and Co-operation Projects Funds also.
Funding is allocated by the Rural Perth and Kinross Local Action Group, (LAG). This independent body consists of representatives from local businesses and public sector and third sector organisations.
Anyone can apply: www.PKLeader.org, Facebook @PerthKinrossLEADERFunding, Twitter @P_KLeader #PKLeader
MEDIA RELEASE issued by Interwoven PR. You too can share your stories (aka press or media releases), on this site. Email here for more information.
Check out twitter.com/scotsbulletin for your very own media releases feed…
Check out too twitter.com/allEducationPR and twitter.com/allSciencePR.
Stay connected with our various twitter feeds: Charities, Drink, Education, Energy, Fashion, Film, Food, Gardens, Legal, Motors, Music, Outdoors, Property, Science and Sports. And not forgetting Finance, Theatre, Travel, Festivals, Visual Arts, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Perth and Stirling.
Interwoven PR contact details…
Contact: Fiona Stewart
Phone: 07940560453
Email: fiona@booktrawler.com
Website: http://www.aerospacekinross.com
