Next Stop: The Future!

We are teaming up with S&DR200 and Little Inventors to launch the NEXT STOP: The Future! invention challenge, and you are invited to take part!

S&DR200 is a 9-month international festival taking place across County Durham and Tees Valley in 2025, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR). This 26-mile journey on the S&DR between Shildon and Stockton via Darlington on 27 September 1825 transformed how the world traded, travelled, and communicated.  

Little Inventors believes that young people have the best creative ideas, and they love giving them opportunities to explore their imaginations. 

The challenge encompasses elements of history, design and technology, science, art and design, English and geography. The challenge is open to young people in school years 5, 6, 7 and 8, in areas governed by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Darlington Borough Council and Durham County Council.

All you need is a printer, some pens and a bunch of young, brilliant inventive minds. You can spend as little as 30 minutes on this challenge, or much longer, as we have loads of fun and inspiring resources.

How to get involved

  1. Download the educational and easy to use resources, available from the Little Inventors website from 6 January 2025
  2. Submit all ideas to Little Inventors through the website by 31 March 2025
  3. All ideas will be published on the Little Inventors website with feedback from the Little Inventors team.

Five of the ideas will be selected to be brought to life in some form by expert makers. These designs will then be exhibited at a special S&DR200 event later in 2025 and the winning young people will have the chance to collaborate with their designated maker.

To register your interest or if you want to find out more, Little Inventors would love to hear from you, please email hello@littleinventors.org or check out the website from 6 January 2025.

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