Cornwall FIRST Lego League

Big Give Christmas Challenge 2025

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), through its Futures Fund, has signed up for the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2025. The IET will be fundraising to give more young people the opportunity to experience real-world STEM challenges and valuable life skills that can support them in their future careers.

Mark your calendar and help the IET spread the word from 2-9 December - your donation will have the opportunity to be doubled!

This year, the IET received a significant number of applications from underrepresented groups in STEM that it cannot currently fund. This festive season, help the IET provide hands-on STEM experiences to more children through FIRST^® LEGO^® League.

FIRST^® LEGO^® League is an inspiring, global programme for young people, which develops confidence, problem solving, teamwork and STEM skills all whilst investigating a real-world theme. Your donation will directly enable children aged 6-16 years to explore their interest in engineering and technology.

Why is FIRST^® LEGO^® League important?

– Inspire future engineers: early STEM education helps break negative stereotypes and encourages more children to consider careers in engineering and technology.

– Hands-on learning: FIRST^® LEGO^® League provides practical experiences that inspire and educate young minds.

– Address the STEM skills gap: the UK faces a significant STEM skills gap, costing £1.5bn annually. Only 16.9% of engineers are women, and 14% are disabled.

How your donation helps:

– Matched funding: from 2-9 December, you have the opportunity for your donation to be matched, doubling the impact on children’s STEM education.

– Engineering made accessible for all: encourage more young people from all backgrounds to discover a passion for engineering.

How your support creates tomorrow’s problem-solvers

Funding from IET Futures Fund enabled Team Activ8 to take part in the FIRST^® LEGO^® League year after year, growing from three beginners into a team of ten award-winning innovators. Their journey includes creating SenSea, an underwater submersible using Raspberry Pi for ocean monitoring, and winning the “Rising All Stars Award” at the Australian Open Championship.

As one team member shared:

“We're not only learning technical skills, like hardware and building and coding. We're also learning lots of soft skills, like public speaking, teamwork and more such as cooperation and all of our core values.”

Beyond technical skills, they’ve developed resilience, teamwork, and leadership - skills that will benefit them for life. This story shows why funding and campaigns like the Big Give matter. Your support can turn curiosity into capability and helps young people become tomorrow’s problem-solvers.

Donate between the 2-9 December: Big Give Christmas Challenge 2025

FIRST LEGO League: A Story of Inspiration

FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge is a global program. It helps young people explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Young people learn by doing hands-on activities and building robots.

In the UK, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) runs the program. The Education Business Partnership (EBP) are the regional partners who deliver FLL in Cornwall.

Each season has a real-world theme. This year’s theme is UNEARTHED. Teams design, build, and code a robot to explore a dig site. The robot uncovers artifacts and reveals stories from past civilizations.

Teams are also asked to complete an Innovation Project. They research a problem faced by archaeologists and suggest a solution. Points are awarded based on FLL rules, and winners are chosen from these scores.

The challenge is open to young people aged 9 to 16. Coaches and mentors support the teams. Most teams come from schools, but some are from community groups or home-educated families.

The regional finals take place at RNAS Culdrose. EBP works with Royal Navy staff, STEM Ambassadors, and local volunteers to run the event.

Last year, 580 young people in Cornwall joined the SUBMERGED season and 48 teams reached the regional final. Three teams went on to the national finals in Harrogate:

• The Bishop Bronescombe LEGO League Girls
• The Darite Marine Marvels
• The Jelly Friends from Penpol School

Jelly Friends earned a special invitation to represent Cornwall at an international open contest in the USA. Their teacher, Jacob Woolcock, went with them to support the team.

"It’s a real way for children to learn more about who they are and build life skills that just can’t be taught during normal school subjects." – Jacob Woolcock (Jelly Friends Teacher)

Teachers across Cornwall shared their thoughts on last season. They highlighted the powerful impact it had on pupils, schools, and communities. Their feedback tells a story of growth, inclusion, and inspiration.

Team Work and Problems Solving

Many teachers praised FLL. Sharing how it encourages teamwork and creative thinking. Pupils learn to work together and solve problems.

"It encourages teamwork, problem solving and creativity in a really exciting and fun way." – Teacher

"Teamwork, new skills, lasting impact work with year groups and the ability to make real world connections." – Teacher

Confidence and speaking

FLL gives pupils the chance to shine in ways not always seen in the classroom. Teachers noted improvements in confidence, speaking, and leadership.

"The children have flourished. The work on LEGO coding and the project has enabled them to explore and hone self-skills such as strength teamwork and speaking." – Teacher

"The pupils grow in confidence and enjoy the responsibility and independence of directing their own project ideas and robot design." – Teacher

Real-World STEM Connections

Teachers said that FLL helps pupils see how STEM is used in real jobs. The challenge sparked interest in coding, robots, and building.

"Learning about lots of STEM careers and activities, having fun, teamwork, building speaking and speaking skills." – Teacher

"STEM understanding, team working, coding – great event for students across all walks of life." – Teacher

Inclusion and Belonging

FLL is fun and open to everyone. Girls and boys from different backgrounds. Pupils with special educational needs, and those who find schools challenging learn with Lego.

"It really is the show of my year. Especially as LEGO attracts children from all backgrounds, it's wonderful to be able to include everyone." – Teacher

"The children that took part love it and look forward to March. It really helps with teamwork, especially the boys who have to work with the girls." – Teacher

Acknowledgements and Final Thoughts

The Royal Navy, Industry sponsors/volunteers and the EBP team work hard to make this event happen. A big thank you to everyone who helps make FIRST LEGO League a success.

Special thanks to Janine Bisson, George Slater, and Gavin Beresford for their time and dedication. EBP act as the first point of contact for schools and seek funding to ensure all can take part.

Here is a final thought from George Slater (EBP Education Project Manager):

“This will be my fourth season supporting delivery of FIRST LEGO League in Cornwall. And while the challenge themes of SUPERPOWERED, MASTERPIECE, SUBMERGED and UNEARTHED created unique experiences, some aspects are consistent year on year".

"Young people who participate in FIRST LEGO League grow by developing STEM skills, critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, collaboration, confidence, communication, character and core values. It is a privilege to be part of this work, and I can’t wait to meet our new teams as the season gets underway”.

For more information contact: ebp@cornwall.gov.uk

Local Businesses: Helping Young People in Cornwall Explore STEM

FIRST LEGO League Challenge is part of a global program. It helps young people learn about science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM). They learn by building robots and solving problems as a team.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) leads the program in the UK. The Education Business Partnership (EBP) support IET and run the program in Cornwall.

Each year, the regional finals take place at RNAS Culdrose. EBP works with Royal Navy staff, STEM Ambassadors, and local volunteers to run the event. Schools bring their robots and projects to compete in this busy exciting experience. At the end of each day judges score their work to find the winners.

EBP is reaching out to local businesses to ask for your help. You can support the program through sponsorship or volunteering.

Why Sponsorship Matters

By supporting this event, you’re investing in the next generation of engineers, coders, and creators. Sponsorship helps with costs, event delivery and gives business brand visibility.

Sponsorship has three main purposes:

• Support teams with the cost of robotics equipment and registration fees.
• Assist with travel costs and through season support to help teams in need.
• Contribute to regional finals event to create a celebration of STEM.

Why Volunteering Matters

Voluntary support is also a key element:

• Staff can support teams through the season with expert advice and encouragement.
• Staff can act as referees or judges at the regional final (full training provided).
• Staff can host a STEM activity at the regional final.

The regional final is a great way to volunteer and make a difference. As a non-profit, all money goes straight to helping young people. It gives them skills and confidence for the future.

Huge thanks to Watson Marlow for their support last season!

Many thanks to Watson Marlow, who have sponsored FIRST LEGO League for several years. Last season, they helped two new school teams. Mylor Bridge Community Primary School and Halwin School. They covered the cost of equipment and registration costs.

“It's a fantastic event for pupils to be part of. It encourages teamwork, problem solving and creativity in a really exciting and engaging way. As a teacher, it is great to see pupils shine in ways you aren't always able to see in the classroom. I am the new head of our school and, having participated at my last school, I was incredibly keen to get the children here involved. I am passionate about providing children with opportunities beyond the classroom and this is one of the very best examples of this.

The impact of the team element of this has a really positive impact going beyond the scope of the competition itself. Pupils dealing with the real-life frustrations and working out how to manage them is also incredibly valuable. We had a robot sponsored by Watson Marlow, without this we would not have been able to participate.” - Headteacher Mylor Bridge Community Primary School

“Important to give children in a small school experiences and STEM opportunities. Ongoing impact will be confidence, teamwork, having fun. Loved everything about the day. Best part – watching the children’s faces when they were getting a trophy. We liked all the practical activities that children could join in with.” - Headteacher at Halwin School

Watson Marlow also sent two engineers to the regional finals. They acted as judges for the innovation project. This showed pupils that their ideas matter and that STEM role models are there to support them.

Huge thanks to Soroptimist International St Austell and District club for their support last season!

Soroptimist International St Austell & District club help girls take part in the FIRST LEGO League Challenge in Cornwall. They give money to all-girl teams in their area so schools and groups can join.

Last season, SUBMERGED, Soroptimist International St Austell & District club supported six teams. One of these teams, the BB LEGO League Girls from Bishop Bronescombe School, reached the national final.

Soroptimist International St Austell & District club members also helped at the regional final. They acted as judges for the Innovation Project and supported the event.

This year, Soroptimist International St Austell & District club is helping four teams:

• Sandy Hill Academy

• Bishop Bronescombe School

• Charlestown Primary School

• Tywardreath School

Their support gives girls the chance to learn about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in a fun and creative way.

Want to get involved?
Contact Cornwall EBP to learn more and support this exciting program. ebp@cornwall.gov.uk