Opportunities in and near St Austell

The NASA Space Apps Challenge is a global hackathon hosted in Plymouth by City College Plymouth. Over the course of two days, participants work in teams to tackle real-world challenges using NASA’s open data, developing creative ideas and practical solutions for problems on Earth and in space. The event is aimed at people who are interested in coding, science, engineering, design, technology and creative problem-solving. It offers a chance to collaborate with others, build skills, and take part in a worldwide community of innovators while working on ambitious challenge-based projects.

Education Business Partnership’s STEM Activities and Careers Support is part of the wider Shaping Futures Cornwall Careers project, which aims to raise aspirations and improve access to further education, employment and training. The project works with young people and their families across Cornwall, including home-educated learners, and is designed to help build confidence, broaden horizons and strengthen links between communities, employers and local organisations.

EBP sessions focus on practical, hands-on STEM experiences and careers guidance. Activities include LEGO robotics, coding, engineering challenges and K’NEX air-powered cars, alongside careers pop-up workshops where young people can talk through their next steps after post-16 and explore apprenticeships, college courses, training and other options. The sessions are delivered in friendly local community venues and are designed to be accessible, with extra support for groups who may need it most, including SEND learners, Travellers, refugees and excluded learners.

An evening event exploring the future of cities and communities, The Way We Live: Designing Cities of Tomorrow brings together panel discussion, debate and ideas in a public-facing format. It is led by Professor Katharine Willis and is presented by the University of Plymouth as part of its wider public engagement programme. The event is designed to share thinking around urban life, community design and how places may evolve over time. It is a free event and booking is required through The Box. The event takes place in person at The Box in Plymouth and runs for two hours, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on 25 September 2026.

Voyage Home: Digital Architecture for Social Good is a free, drop-in public installation from the University of Plymouth. It explores how digital design and innovative construction can help create more affordable and sustainable homes, turning research ideas into an accessible, hands-on experience for visitors. The event is led by Dr Alejandro Veliz Reyes and forms part of the University’s wider Voyage of Discovery programme for European Researchers’ Night. It is designed to bring research out of the lab and into the heart of the community, connecting people of all ages with the work happening at the university and showing how architecture and construction can make a positive social impact.

Voyage Under the Surface is a free public event from the University of Plymouth's CRISPS research team, bringing food security science into Cornwall in an accessible drop-in format. Visitors can learn about the team’s research and see how scientific work connects to everyday issues around food, land and the environment. The event includes hands-on activities, real soil samples and informal conversations about soil health and sustainable farming. It is designed for a broad audience, with no booking required, and sits within the university’s wider Voyage of Discovery programme, which shares research with communities across Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall.

The Falmouth University Travel Fund helps eligible prospective students cover the cost of travelling to visit the University. It is aimed at individuals facing financial hardship and supports attendance at key recruitment events such as Open Days, Offer Holder Days, on-campus interviews, regional interviews, and campus tours. Eligible visitors must be UK residents who have studied at a state school, sixth form, college or academy in the UK and are applying for their first undergraduate degree. The fund is intended to widen participation and support students who are underrepresented in higher education, with eligibility linked to a range of access and contextual criteria. Claims are reimbursed after the visit, rather than paid in advance, and the amount depends on how far you travel from home. You can claim once per visit, with a maximum of one claim per household, and awards are made on a discretionary, first-come, first-served basis while funding lasts. Applicants must book and attend an eligible event, then complete the online claim form at the event and submit it within five working days.

The University of Exeter Open Days give prospective students the chance to explore the university first-hand. Visitors can learn about degree programmes, support services and student life, while also getting a feel for the campuses and the wider university community. Across the day, attendees can join subject-specific sessions, hear general talks about applying and student life, browse information stands and take campus tours. Students will also have the chance to speak with academics and current students, helping them decide whether Exeter is the right place for their studies. The university also offers other ways to visit, including campus tours, virtual open day content and offer-holder visit days for applicants who already have an offer. Visitors can book in advance, and guests are welcome to attend many parts of the event alongside the prospective student.

A 3-day painting workshop focused on creating abstract landscapes using oil and cold wax. Participants will explore how cold wax adds body, transparency and depth to oil paint while also helping it dry faster, and will work in a relaxed seaside setting inspired by the Cornish landscape. The workshop includes a range of processes and techniques for recording shapes, colours and textures in a loose, expressive way. Attendees can expect to use photographs, books and natural materials, while also being encouraged to bring their own landscape-related source material if they wish. The tutor will share her own approach to using memory and imagination in painting. Over the three days, the workshop will cover abstraction, loosening your approach to paint, and working more freely and intuitively. There will be painting demonstrations, personalised support, experimentation with different tools and materials, and structured 1:1 mentoring. By the end, participants should have created around 15 paintings on paper and developed their creative practice further.

The University of Exeters Undergraduate funding and scholarships page summarises the range of financial support available to students arriving at university for the first time. The page explains merit-based scholarships and non-competitive bursaries to help those from lower household incomes, plus specialist schemes such as the Sanctuary Scholarship for asylum seekers and refugees, sports and choral scholarships, and targeted entrance awards for applicants with regional or school links. There is detailed information on means-tested awards such as the Access to Exeter Bursary (ATE) with household-income bands and annual payment amounts for 2026/27, care-leaver and estranged-student bursaries, travel scholarships (including study-abroad awards), and short-term hardship funding. The page also describes eligibility rules and application processes for specific awards (for example Entrance Scholarship criteria and how to request application forms). Additional support and services are referenced, including Disabled Students Allowance, travel and bus bursaries for Penryn Campus students, the Student Carers Travel Fund (maximum 400 per year) and contacts for enquiries (Student Information Desk / admissions-scholarships email addresses). The page is intended for prospective and incoming undergraduate students (including mature students) and signposts how entitlement is assessed and how to apply or request application forms.

Falmouth University's on-campus Open Day on 14 November 2026 (09:00-16:00) invites prospective undergraduate students to visit both Falmouth and Penryn campuses to explore facilities, meet academic staff and current students, and learn about courses, accommodation and student support. Registration desks open at 09:00; attendees are advised to arrive 30 minutes before their first booked session and to check which campus hosts their chosen course sessions. The event covers a wide range of undergraduate courses across creative, technical and business disciplines located across the two campuses (Falmouth Campus, Woodlane, Falmouth TR11 4RH; Penryn Campus, Treliever Road, Penryn TR10 9FE). Regular shuttle buses run between campuses and campus access information is provided; Penryn Campus parking is available and free on Saturdays, while Falmouth Campus has Blue Badge parking only. Support and travel information includes the Falmouth University Travel Fund (reimbursement for eligible UK residents meeting widening participation criteria), a 20% Great Western Railway Advanced Purchase discount code (FALOPENDAY26), and accessibility support (contact futurestudies@falmouth.ac.uk). Booking is via the university Open Days booking form.

Join a student-led or self-guided campus tour to explore the University of Exeter's grounds, buildings and key student areas across its three campuses. Student Ambassadors guide visitors around study spaces, sports facilities, social areas and main university buildings, welcoming questions and sharing first-hand experience of student life. Tours run regularly during term time with fewer dates during vacation periods; tour dates are published on the website approximately a month beforehand. Campus tours give an overview of the campus but do not include subject department visits or internal accommodation viewings. Self-guided and 360° virtual tours are available for visitors who prefer to explore at their own pace or cannot attend in person. The University has three campuses: Streatham and St Luke's (Exeter) and the Penryn Campus (near Falmouth, Cornwall). Penryn also runs Explore Postgraduate Cornwall events that combine a campus tour with opportunities to speak with Graduate School staff and students; details and booking links are provided on the campus tours webpages.

Falmouth University Undergraduate Open Days are on-campus events designed for prospective students to get a real taste of student life, meet academic staff and current students, explore facilities and find out about courses and how to apply. Events take place across Falmouth Campus and Penryn Campus; subject sessions, campus tours, study hubs and information points run throughout the day so you can join talks, drop-in sessions and guided tours relevant to the courses you are interested in. During an Open Day you can attend 30-minute talks on student accommodation, funding, applying to Falmouth, employability, wellbeing and support, plus subject-specific sessions delivered by course teams. Campus tours (typically 09:00-15:30) and subject drop-ins (e.g., Games, Computing, Drawing, 3D workshops) are available. Registration desks and information points are staffed to support accessibility needs and provide guidance throughout the day. Practical support is available: the Falmouth University Travel Fund can help eligible UK residents with the cost of travel to Open Days, a free coach service from Bristol Temple Meads runs to selected Open Day dates, and a GWR discount is promoted for Advanced Purchase train tickets. Book subject sessions at the time of booking and consult the Open Day Guide for full timetables and campus locations.

Visit Falmouth University's campuses and explore their professional-grade facilities at an on-campus Open Day. The event runs as an informal opportunity to see teaching spaces and specialist facilities, speak to academic staff, and meet current students to get a feel for undergraduate student life. The Open Day on Wed 25 Nov 2026 will be held between 12:00 and 17:00 on campus. Bookings for this Open Day will open soon; in the meantime you can register your interest using the university's online form and the admissions team will contact you when booking begins. If you have questions about attending an Open Day you can contact the admissions team by email at futurestudies@falmouth.ac.uk or by phone on +44(0)1326 254350.

Falmouth University offers bespoke, one-to-one, in-person campus tours at its Falmouth Campus and Penryn Campus. Tours are run on Wednesdays and Fridays and last approximately one hour. A Student Ambassador will guide you around campus grounds and buildings, showing professional facilities and learning spaces and answering questions about living and studying at Falmouth. Bookings are made via the online booking form on the Falmouth website. Visitors should select their preferred date, campus (Falmouth or Penryn) and time when booking. Bookings close one week in advance of each campus tour to allow the university to organise each bespoke visit. These tours are intended for prospective students and visitors considering studying at Falmouth and are an opportunity to get a feel for the university environment, facilities and student experience.

Falmouth University invites 13-16 year-olds of all abilities to join the National Saturday Club: Art & Design. The club offers practical, campus-based workshops that cover Drawing, Photography, Visual Arts, Games Art, Graphic Design, Animation and Printmaking. Sessions run every Saturday during term time and are free to attend. As a club member you will develop new skills, discover creative talents, learn from industry experts and build confidence. Members are expected to commit to attending each Saturday session throughout term time. Clubs culminate in an end-of-year trip to London where clubs from across the country showcase their work. To apply or find out more, prospective members should contact outreach@falmouth.ac.uk for an application form or register interest via the National Saturday Club page linked from the event. Applications are open for clubs starting October 2026 and are accepted through December (late applicants may be waitlisted).

Volunteer online or from home with the British Red Cross and support people in need wherever you live in the UK. This flexible remote volunteering option is designed for people who want to make a real difference without needing to travel to a shop or office. There are several ways to get involved. You could help research, photograph and list items for the online shop, support fundraising, answer calls on a national support line, or assist with services for refugees and families who are trying to reconnect. By volunteering remotely, you can gain valuable experience, meet like-minded people and contribute to the Red Cross humanitarian mission. It is a flexible way to support others, build skills and take part in meaningful community action from home.

Mathsaurus’s free course helps students prepare for the Intermediate Maths Challenge by working through a large set of past paper questions from recent UKMT papers. The course focuses on building confidence through practice, with clear support for each question so learners can develop their problem-solving skills rather than just checking answers. Each question includes a short video hint to help students get started, followed by full video solutions. The course covers 125 past paper questions drawn from the 2021 to 2025 Intermediate Maths Challenges, making it a substantial revision resource for anyone who wants structured practice with this style of mathematical challenge. It is designed for pupils aged 13 to 16, and is also open to enthusiastic younger students. The course is free to access and can be started by choosing the free option and then accessing it from the student dashboard.

Entelechia Collective is a youth-led non-profit focused on mental health awareness and destigmatising mental health among young people. This volunteering opportunity is open to young people who want to contribute to a cause with real social impact while building practical experience in a supportive, youth-led environment. Volunteers can help with a range of creative and communications tasks, including writing, design, marketing, and making reels. The role offers hands-on experience, volunteer hours, and a certificate, and it may suit applicants who want to develop content skills while supporting a mental health initiative for youth. Successful volunteers are contacted with more detail about the kind of reels and content they may be expected to create.

Youth volunteer placements with the British Red Cross give young people the chance to gain practical experience in the humanitarian sector while contributing to meaningful work that supports communities across the UK. Placements are designed to help volunteers build confidence, develop new skills and explore career options in a real-world setting. Volunteers may get involved in a wide range of activities depending on the role, including research projects, event support, helping with administration and project management, attending team meetings and contributing ideas to strategic discussions. The placements are flexible, with many roles remote and others office-based or hybrid. These opportunities are suitable for people with little or no previous experience. The British Red Cross provides guidance and training, and its bursary scheme can support young volunteers aged 15-25 from low-income households. Most placements last between 3 and 12 weeks, with time commitments often arranged around the volunteer’s circumstances.

Associated British Ports (ABP) has launched a virtual work experience programme that helps students explore how ports operate and the careers connected to maritime logistics. The programme is designed as a flexible online experience, making it easier for young people to take part wherever they live and on a device that suits them. Created with Talent XP, the programme uses interactive modules to introduce learners to four key areas: keeping Britain trading, the energy transition, safety and wellbeing, and careers at ABP. Students learn how goods move through ports, how ports support renewable projects, and how ABP approaches a safety-first workplace culture. The experience is intended to widen access to port-related careers and give students a starting point for future opportunities. Participants can also hear about apprenticeship and graduate pathways at ABP, and they receive a certificate when they complete the modules.