East Midlands Community STEM Volunteers

We are STEM Ambassadors East Midlands, part of the UK-wide STEM Ambassador volunteering network. This network is funded by UKRI and managed across the UK by STEM Learning. Leicestershire Education Business Company is proud to be a STEM Ambassadors Delivery Partner for the East Midlands on behalf of STEM Learning UK. STEM Ambassadors East Midlands engages people with diverse STEM backgrounds - from interns to CEOs, students to professors - and supports them to volunteer in quality, impactful activities that aim to increase the quantity and diversity of participation in STEM by young people across all parts of the East Midlands, UK.

Being a STEM Ambassador is a fully flexible volunteer position, requiring an individual to commit to participating in just 1 volunteering day a year. This commitment is often supported by an employer through their social value work, and in research settings it can help fulfil institutional or grant-based widening participation, outreach or public engagement requirements. Prospective STEM Ambassadors need to create a profile on www.stem.org.uk, complete basic safeguarding training, agree to a code of conduct and undergo a DBS check. This can all be completed online.

Once approved, volunteers are expected to keep their STEM Ambassador profile up to date, read and respond to messages from activity organisers, record their STEM volunteering hours, and participate in additional training (where necessary). Once a STEM Ambassador has agreed to take part in an activity, they should endeavour to prepare thoroughly and keep that appointment as a priority. STEM Ambassadors participate in activities either directly with young people (ages 5-19) or in activities that support the adults in regular contact with young people (e.g., teachers, careers advisors, community leaders, museum and library staff). Most activities are in person, often at a school or on-site, but they can also take place online via video conferencing (e.g., Teams).

STEM Ambassador activities should have some link to STEM - science, technology, engineering, maths - and can be subject specific, or more generic, e.g. about careers in a sector. Exactly what happens in an activity varies by interaction, but there are many sources of inspiration and resources to help volunteers and those requesting their support deliver memorable, impactful interactions. STEM Ambassadors East Midlands is one such source of support, and we are available to support any STEM Ambassador volunteering in the region.

What We Are Looking For in a STEM Ambassador:

• Individuals with a background, expertise, and/or keen amateur interest in any STEM-related area.
• Individuals who are keen to engage younger audiences in impactful activities relating to their STEM background, expertise and/or area of interest.
• Individuals who are committed to the principles of safeguarding with respect to working with young people in educational and community settings.
• Individuals who are committed to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion when it comes to encouraging participation in STEM.
• Individuals who like to have fun and answer a lot of questions about various topics!

Even if you have not done much of this yet, by becoming a STEM Ambassador, you will get the opportunity to build your skills through multiple experiences - learning by doing! Contact us today if you think what you have to offer could make you a great STEM Ambassador.

Access to opportunities all across the East Midlands, UK, to engage young people in activities that raise their level of awareness, engagement and involvement with STEM. Develop a portfolio of STEM engagement activities and experiences that you can share with a network of like-minded people across the country. Support broader efforts to build a larger, more diverse STEM workforce for the future.