ENGINEERS are getting younger than ever these days - thanks to a £2,100 grant to Cockermouth After School Scheme (CASS).

Children from as young as four have been benefitting from all the kit CASS has been able to buy following a grant from the Engineering Educations Grant Scheme (EEGS) to support the development of its Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) Club.

The weekly club was set up last year and is led by volunteer engineering graduates.

Julie Poole, Cass manager, said: “With the support of our volunteer management committee we established a fledgling STEM club with fantastic support from a group of STEM ambassadors from local engineering businesses.

"The club runs once a week during our after school sessions and introduces the children to practical aspects of science, technology, engineering and maths.

"It's great that these young graduates can educate the children in a fun and entertaining way and we can draw from from their expertise and knowledge.

"It’s all about fun and getting to understand more about how the things work.”

CASS is based in the Scout Centre, on St Helen's Street, and is open to primary school age children. The grant has meant it can invest in equipment which will sustain the club for many years.

"With the continued support of our local engineers we are using the new equipment to introduce the children to concepts such as wind power, electronic circuits and we recently started to use Lego ‘Simple and Powered Machines’ kits to allow them to construct a variety of projects," said Julie.

"It’s great to see the children’s faces when their designs and hard work come to fruition.”

Peter Finegold, head of education and skills at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said: "The Cass STEM club is a fantastic example of the kind of projects the EEGS aims to promote.

"The UK is facing a critical engineering skills shortage and showing young people how creative and exciting engineering can be is a key way of inspiring the engineers of tomorrow.”

CASS provides term-time wraparound care and a school holiday club. It is a registered charity and was set up in 1990 by a group of working parents.