b'24 Member News July 2020VolunteersTheres nothing better than getting a lightbulb moment from a childMany young people in socio-economically deprived areas are disengaged from STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) and lack awareness of their STEM career potential. However, an IET volunteer has the social mobility prospects of young people in deprived areas firmly in his sightsIn October 2019 we launched the IETsRich Blair MIET, who is an IET Schools Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)Liaison Officer and STEM Ambassador,strategy (theiet.org/edistrategy), whichhas been sharing his story with us about sets out the areas we want to focus on sohow hes contributing to our social we can reach under-represented groups,mobility focus.now and in the future. The strategyRich is determined to make sure thatIET Schools Liaison Officer and STEM Ambassador, Rich Blair MIETensures that we align our efforts to theyoung people from low socio-economic Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng)areas are given the same opportunities asWhen the time comes for the teachers and the Science Councils Diversity andthose from more fortunate backgrounds,to deliver the workshops in their own Inclusion Progression Framework Tool,to realise their full potential and improveschool, they dont do this alone. Rich so that as an Institution we reflect thetheir social mobility prospects. always attends the first workshop session behaviours that we promote. in person, so that children know there is a The strategy has been written with aIn collaboration with the STEMface to this project and that the IET and STEMHub are supporting it. The children focus on the current situation in the UK,Ambassador Hub for South Eastlearn that he comes from a low socio-where we need to address the skillsEngland (thestemhub.org.uk),economic background much like their own, shortage that threatens UK industryso when he talks about his journey into by widening the talent pool withinRich delivers free workshopsengineering, he becomes a very credible, engineering and technology. However,to teachers using the modularinspirational and accessible role model.the guiding principles within the strategy,Internet of Things (IoT)Rich, whose STEM sessions reach such as inclusion and engaging with anddevelopment kit that he createdthousands of young people each year, celebrating the achievements of engineerssays theres nothing better than getting a and technicians from multiple diversityfor his final-year degree project.lightbulb moment from a childstrands, have a global reach.Its designed to take the fear Weve been asking IET volunteersout of electronics by providingYou can read more about Richsto engage with our EDI strategy byteachers with a toolkit they canactivities and how other volunteers are interpreting it in their local communityuse without being fully versedengaging with our equality, diversity and and encouraging them to considerinclusion focus on the Volunteer Hub at: activities that can support and embed it. in engineering or science.theiet.org/volunteers/edi-case-studies Equality is about ensuring that individuals areInclusion ensures that diverse groups feel able to participate not viewed less favourably because of theirand can benefit from equal opportunity for all. individual characteristic, protected or otherwise. When all three of these elements are Diversity aims to recognise, understand, celebrate and value the individual differences ofworking together, greater impact and everybody. These differences can be groupedchange can be established.under protected characteristics such as gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation.Together #WeAreTheIET'