The Spectris Foundation Charity Showcase – Celebrating STEM education initiatives

We were honored to welcome guests, including Jeff Banks from The Lightyear Foundation, a charity aimed at breaking down barriers to disabled and neurodiverse children and young people taking part in STEM. Jeff shared the inspiring story of how the foundation came to be and its journey to present-day success. Jeff’s insights highlighted the importance of resilience, dedication, and the unwavering belief in the power of STEM education to transform lives.

We also heard from two remarkable young ambassadors, Chloe and Tosin, who have been directly supported by The Lightyear Foundation. Chloe and Tosin shared their personal experiences and the profound impact the charity has had on their lives. Their stories underscored the importance of a reciprocal relationship in charitable endeavors, where those receiving support can guide and inspire those providing assistance.

George Imafidon from Motivez captivated the audience with the journey of Motivez, from its humble beginnings in a single London borough to its expansive reach across the UK. He shared impressive statistics on the number of young people Motivez has supported and how their work has impacted young people, describing 92% of young people reported feeling more confident in their ability to achieve their career goals after attending a Motivez STEM workshop.

Another highlight of the showcase was George Handscomb from the African Gifted Foundation, who spoke about the incredible school in Ghana that offers higher education to young women from various African countries. His presentation included hearing from Abigail Tetteh, an AGF alumna now working at the Bank of America in London. Abigail shared her experiences at AGF and the life-changing opportunities it provided.

Bryant Gomer joined the event virtually from San Francisco and walked us through the latest achievements of Technovation Girls, including the World Summit, which reached an astounding 30,000 girls. Bryant’s presentation highlighted the global nature of the foundation’s impact and the innovative ways they are reaching and inspiring young minds through real-life problem solving.

Technical problems meant we didn’t hear directly from Engineering Education Scheme Wales; however, a captivating video was shown which highlighted their work with young people across Wales. The video showed a variety of their initiatives including the FIRST Lego league competition and F1 in Schools which motivate the young people they work with.

The showcase concluded with a panel discussion on volunteering experiences, featuring Natalie Moore from Apps for Good, and Spectris volunteers Hugo Maule – Group Head of STEM, and Angela Mills – Head of Workday Services. The panel delved into the significant role volunteers with industry experience play in bridging the gap between education and real-world applications. They emphasized how young people can often feel more comfortable exploring ideas and opening up to volunteers than they do with teachers or parents. They also explored what you can gain from being a volunteer, from hope for the future to gaining some skills yourself.

The showcase was a fantastic celebration of the collaborative efforts of The Spectris Foundation, Spectris and its charitable partners in advancing STEM education globally. The event reinforced the foundation’s mission and demonstrated the tangible impact of our work on young lives. It was also an opportunity for the foundation to commemorate our relationship with Spectris, by featuring incredible stories from the employee nominated grants and the influence and resounding impact Spectris volunteers have had on grant participants. It was a day filled with inspiration, learning, and a shared commitment to a brighter future through education.

Thank you to all of the foundation’s charity partners and to everyone involved in making this showcase an unforgettable event. We look forward to continuing our journey and making an even greater impact in the coming year!