The Rochester Bridge Trust has won an award for its “inspirational” work with schools.

The Institution of Civil Engineers was so impressed by the Trust’s promotion of civil engineering and the history of bridges to young people that it honoured it with the Steve Tebb Schools Outreach Award. ICE senior vice president Geoff French presented the accolade during a ceremony at Leeds Castle.

John Laverty, director of ICE South East England, said the award recognised the Trust’s outstanding and continuing achievements. “The Rochester Bridge Trust has played an inspirational role in creating science and engineering opportunities for young people across Kent.”

The Trust supports after-school clubs, runs a primary schools’ bridge building competition, provides substantial grants both to secondary schools and to sixth form students to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiatives. It also organises major events such as a the Schools’ Science Expo and the Engineering Experience Day for secondary school students.

The Trust has also been a major donor to the Bridge Study Centre at the Royal Engineers’ Museum in Gillingham which has made the museum’s extensive collection of bridge models available for the first time for use during school visits.

Mr Laverty added: “ICE believes in working with young people to inspire the next generation of engineers. With around 3,000 schools across South East England, ICE relies on the work of volunteers and companies to help with this aim. The Steve Tebb Schools Outreach Award celebrates the individuals and companies that have shown outstanding commitment to promoting the profession at events and in schools across the region over the last year.”

The award is named in memory of Steve Tebb, a dedicated member of ICE and a former chairman of the South Branch’s Education and Training Group.

Meanwhile, the Rochester Bridge Trust is seeking grant applications from schools and colleges keen to set up after-school construction clubs, and design and technology groups. Grants are available to schools in the Kent County Council and Medway council areas, as well as the London Boroughs of Greenwich, Bromley, Bexley and Lewisham. The closing date for applications is June 28.

More at www.rbt.org.uk.