The Sylvia Beaufoy Centre (SBC) provides a much needed facility in a rural area for young people aged 9-19. Young people in rural areas have limited opportunities for positive activities and The Sylvia Beaufoy Centre has seen a noticeable decline in the mental wellbeing of young people over the past two years.

The project will enable young people to build, develop and race electric cars. The team work together each week in the development of the vehicles, whilst also forming cohesive and supportive teams with identified team roles. The team also attend race days across the country, with an International final taking place in October each year. The project also aims to encourage more girls into Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects and is working closely with local schools to encourage girls to join the team.

The project at the SBC is open to 45 young people, aged 11-16. The team meet every Wednesday evening for 2.5 hours during term-time (39 weeks/year) with race days taking place between May and October, mostly at weekends. The project is much broader than just the cars – it also gets young people employment-ready, engaging with others and building links with peers and local engineering businesses.

The period from October to May is focussed on car and team development; learning how the cars operate, using the telemetry, project management and organisation. Roles will include Team Principal, Team Managers, Data analysts, budgeting, as well as driving. The purpose is very much to support independent thinking and developing key skills such as communication, team-work, decision-making and resilience.