Firm wins award for supporting schools (From Barry And District News)

Firm wins award for supporting schools

DOW Corning has been named Most Valued Partner for its work with local schools and colleges in Careers Wales Cardiff and Vale 2005 awards.

Nominated by Careers Wales staff, Dow Corning joins seven other local organisations to be recognised for its support and involvement in the work of Careers Wales Cardiff and Vale including links with education, projects that encourage social inclusion and recruitment of school and college leavers.

With the support of Careers Wales, Dow Corning launched a new maths mentoring scheme earlier this year, aimed at helping local secondary school pupils understand the importance of maths in everyday life.

Employees visited three secondary schools in Barry for eight weeks and each pupil was assigned a personal Dow Corning mentor.

The award also recognises Dow Corning's National Science Week initiative where more than 200 local schoolchildren visit the Barry site during a week in March to become scientists for the day.

Now in its eighth year, pupils from primary schools across Barry don white coats and safety goggles as they undertake a real-life science experiment linked to the National Curriculum. Jonathan Coldman, Community Relations Co-ordinator at Dow Corning, said: "As an employer, we feel it is important to give something back to the community."