Article: David Styles | Image: © Eureka!
Eureka! Mersey, a “future-thinking science and discovery centre” which will offer educational skills to children and young people, has reached the 75% milestone in its quest to amass £11.75 million in funding prior to opening in 2022.
Eureka! Mersey is a spin off from the National Children’s Museum Eureka! in Halifax, and has now been handed a £6.6m grant from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Strategic Investment Fund.
The cash boost propels the organisation a significant distance closer to its funding goal, having benefited last year to the tune of £3 million from the Inspiring Science Fund, co-funded by UK Research and Innovation and the Wellcome Trust.
Eureka!’s Chief Executive, Leigh-Anne Stradeski, says the institution will be “truly unique as a visitor attraction and it is an evolution in our work to inspire and raise the aspirations of children and young people. Eureka! Mersey will change the lives and futures of our young visitors by positively engaging them in the skills and the jobs that will shape the country’s future and theirs.
“As with everything we do at Eureka!, this will be achieved through fun, innovative and ground-breaking exhibits alongside partnerships with arts and creative organisations.”
Eureka! Mersey has been in the pipeline for five years, and will now be formally considered independently by Wirral Council’s planning committee. A final decision is expected in August.
If approved, the attraction will be located at the current Seacombe ferry terminal and Spaceport on Wirral waterfront and be linked to Liverpool by ferry. Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “The proposed new attraction’s focus, and links with local businesses and young people’s groups, ties in perfectly with the city region’s growth sectors and our plans to ensure young people have the skills they need to succeed in tomorrow’s workplace.”
A key remit of Eureka! Mersey will be to allow families, children and young people to engage with science and technology, in pursuit of nurturing their interests in STEM careers. The centre, which is seeking to attract visitors from the local area and across the UK, will also host an area dedicated to children aged up to five years.
