Students from Cedar Lodge School in north Belfast recently participated in NI Water's first-ever Work Inspiration trip. The event was held in partnership with the Lightyear Foundation, a UK charity that creates opportunities for disabled and neurodivergent children and young people to engage with and explore STEM subjects.

The initiative welcomed seven students aged 17 and 18, offering them an insight into the world of science and the various science-based careers available at NI Water. Reflecting NI Water's commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, the programme aims to break down traditional barriers and inspire a more diverse pipeline of future talent within STEM fields.

The day took place at NI Water's Westland headquarters in Belfast and featured interactive workshops and sessions led by the organisation's team of scientists. The students took part in laboratory tours and hands-on experiments, providing them with a practical experience of active science.

Mrs Phelan from Cedar Lodge School said: "It was such a fantastic educational experience for the pupils to visit NI Water. The presentation, 'Tap to Source,' along with the tour around the labs, gave the pupils an amazing opportunity to see for themselves all the incredible science and hard work that goes into treating our water every day. They were amazed at the different processes that have to be done to keep our water clean and loved having a chance to experiment themselves to produce filtered water. Everyone loved the rap, 'Toilets are not Bins.' Evie was amazed there were so many labs - it was great to put on the white lab coats and go round them. Ben loved being a detective, testing odours in the water. Katie loved filtering the water herself. Everyone thought it was one of their best trips out with so much to see and learn." Helen Devlin, Head of HR Operations at NI Water commented: "We were absolutely delighted to welcome students from Cedar Lodge School to NI Water. Creating inclusive opportunities for young people to explore their interests and strengths is incredibly important to us, and days like this really bring that to life. Through the Work Inspiration day, delivered in partnership with the Lightyear Foundation, we aim to make STEM and the water industry feel accessible, relevant and achievable for neurodivergent young people. It was a privilege to host such an engaged and enthusiastic group, and it was a special experience for our team. We hope the students felt equally inspired, and that the day has encouraged them to see science and STEM as a place where they belong, and to consider the many diverse and rewarding career pathways that could be open to them in the future."

The Work Inspiration trip aims to enhance social mobility by establishing inclusive pathways into STEM and connecting young people with meaningful insights into future careers.

The Lightyear Foundation's STEM Horizons project receives support from the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland via the RTÉ Toy Show Grant Appeal. The project is set to provide 600 disabled and neurodivergent children and young people across six special schools in Northern Ireland with inclusive, hands-on learning experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). This is achieved through immersive learning, engaging workshops, work inspiration trips, an innovative role model programme, and fully accessible Immersive Sensory Science experiences. The Work Inspiration Trip programme introduces these groups to practical STEM applications through facilitated school group visits to industry partners at their workplaces, allowing them to experience unfamiliar areas of STEM through hands-on activities and direct interaction with employees.

Jeff Banks, CEO at Lightyear Foundation, said: "We're incredibly excited to be working with NI Water on this brilliant project. Opportunities like this can make a real difference in helping deaf, disabled and neurodivergent young people see that science and STEM careers are for them. At Lightyear Foundation, we are committed to building strong partnerships across all four nations of the UK, and we're especially pleased to be cementing really strong relationships here in Northern Ireland. It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm, curiosity and confidence of the students taking part, and we look forward to developing even more inclusive STEM opportunities together in the future."