15 August 2007 11:32 Powerful lessons for Nottingham pupils from Central Networks

Five enthusiastic volunteers from Central Networks, E.ON UK's electricity distribution business for central England, joined a group of students from the National School in Annesley to teach science lessons to students at three local primary schools.

The volunteers helped the six Year 10 students prepare a lesson on how to construct a variety of energy-related projects, including an electrical circuit, a pulley system and a lighthouse model, as part of the company's plugin2engineering scheme.

Paul Ashley, one of the willing Central Networks volunteers, said "I really enjoyed working with the children on the project because they were all so enthusiastic and had so much fun while they were learning.

"This scheme is great as it helps school kids see that what they learn in their science lessons has applications in the real world, and it may even encourage them to consider a career in engineering."

Gary Mace, who teaches the Year 10 students, said: "The kids were really enthusiastic about all the activities - it's been great to watch them.

"They had a really fantastic time and couldn't stop talking about the experience.

"It's brilliant to be able to work together with the support of a local company like E.ON to have an influence on the next generation of potential engineers."

The students and volunteers visited three schools in the area: the National Primary School, Linby Primary School and Hillside Primary School.

Plugin2engineering has been designed to support the teaching of electricity at key stages 3 and 4, and the materials available to schools can be supplemented by visits from Central Networks employees.

There are now 21 schools and colleges across the Midlands which are designated plugin2engineering partners, benefiting from additional support, including careers talks and activity days.

Ends

Notes to editors:

• E.ON is the UK's largest integrated power and gas company - generating and distributing electricity, and retailing power and gas - and is part of the E.ON group, the world's largest investor-owned power and gas company. We employ around 15,000 people in the UK;
• Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.9 million customers across the East and West Midlands through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables - enough to go round the Earth almost four times - and via almost 97,000 substations;
• In 2006, more than 240 E.ON employees committed to long term volunteering projects, helping in their local schools to improve children's skills;
• In total, 2,740 E.ON UK employees (representing nearly one in five employees) took part in at least one energy in the community volunteering programme in 2006, raising a total of £215,000 for good causes and volunteering for a total of 32,000 hours.

For further information contact:

Deanna Mooney on 024 7618 3678