Virgin Atlantic has pledged £2.5 million over five years to support STEM [Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics] initiatives via passenger donations.
The airline’s relaunched Passport to Change programme will provide access to STEM learning for young people through a combined model of direct school engagement, grants and scholarships.
New charity partners, Speakers for Schools, The Smallpeice Trust and UN Refugee Agency partner UK for UNHCR, have come on board as part of the initiative.
The aim of Passport to Change is to grow its presence across destinations, encourage social mobility and close the difference between majority and minority groups, creating opportunities to address inequity in educational learning, according to the airline.
Chief people officer Estelle Hollingsworth said:“Our Passport to Change programme is how we use our business as a force for good, through our communities, our people, and our partners.
“We know there is a huge gender gap in STEM, and that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are disproportionately impacted.
By working with our incredible new charity partners we can reach, educate and empower young people from all parts of society to engage with STEM education, driving real change in the communities where we work and where we fly.”