397 pupils from primary schools across Lisburn and Castlereagh took part in 15 interactive engineering sessions at Lagan Valley Island in February. They worked alongside professional engineers to design, build and test a giant 13-metre-long, 3-metre-high bridge.
The young students were participating in The Big Bridge STEM initiative, delivered by the Lisburn and Castlereagh Labour Market Partnership, which is funded by the Department for Communities.
Councillor Claire Kemp, Regeneration and Growth Committee Chair, said: “It was fantastic to see nearly 400 young people fully immersed in hands-on engineering activities. The Big Bridge not only supports classroom learning but also helps pupils understand how STEM skills connect directly to future careers.
"As a council, we are committed to creating opportunities that raise aspirations and support long-term economic growth across our area.”
Designed for Primary 5 to Primary 7 pupils, each one-hour workshop combined collaborative construction, curriculum-aligned learning and insight into engineering careers. The young people experienced real-world STEM in an engaging, hands-on setting, and each participant received a certificate of achievement.
Feedback has been positive, with schools and parents commenting that children were still discussing their enjoyment of the workshop days later. Teachers have highlighted the strong alignment with the Northern Ireland curriculum and the benefit of pupils engaging directly with professional engineers.