As the world's biggest military airshow, The Royal International Air Tattoo is widely anticipated as one of the spectacles of the summer in the UK each year, for people of all ages.
Bringing more than just thrilling entertainment, it's also a place where young science and tech enthusiasts can fuel their passions for aviation and space, through engaging activities both at the event and throughout the year led by the RAF Charitable Trust — funded by all of the profits from RIAT.
The RAF Charitable Trust — which oversees the running of RIAT through its enterprise arm — exists to promote the RAF and inspire young people to 'fulfil their potential' in air, space and technology through STEM educational engagements such as school activities, scholarships and more.
Working together with partners, the trust gives access to 'forward-looking' personal development opportunities to people aged from five to 25, with an emphasis on underrepresented communities.
With RIAT the centrepiece of its work, its programmes include national STEM competitions, challenging young people in subjects from statistics to engineering; in-school and virtual STEM lessons and workshops; and engineering and aviation scholarships.
At RIAT itself, inspiring air and space activities include a whole range of games, interactive exhibits and demonstrations in the Techno Zone; talks from the 'leading thinkers and doers' in aviation and space on the Inspire Stage; and a chance to sample life in the Royal Air Force, in the RAF Experience area.
The charity is aiming to reach 500,000 young people with STEM engagements by 2026 – and another 500,000 next year, too.
Its work is driven by the belief that engagement in STEM — which stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics – amongst young people is 'massively important' for the future of UK prosperity and defence.
RAFCT chairman, air marshal Phil Osborn CBE, said of the trust's work: 'STEM is one of the biggest challenges, we think, that faces the nation. The future is all about STEM — the defence of the nation, the prosperity of the nation, the way that the nation feels about itself is overwhelmingly positively influenced by STEM.
'I think it's massively important to give young people choice. What we in the RAF Charitable Trust try to do is help people improve their life choices, to give them choice in what they seek to do in the future.
'But also to make them aware of the things that science, technology, engineering and maths can do for them; and also make them aware of the Royal Air Force'.
For more information about the trust, visit rafct.com, or find out more about RIAT and book tickets at airtattoo.com.
