IChemE members can make a real difference by sharing their experiences with young people and helping them discover the possibilities of a career in chemical and process engineering.

Volunteering with young people

We encourage all IChemE members who carry out outreach with young people to complete the following steps before visiting a school or running any outreach activities. 

• Become a Young People's Engagement Volunteer with IChemE
• Register as a STEM Ambassador with STEM Learning

These steps help you stay connected and up to date with IChemE's school engagement initiatives, discover more opportunities to inspire future generations and gain access to support for your outreach. They also allow your volunteering efforts to be recognised and evidenced through your IChemE membership. 

Why do I need to become a STEM Ambassador?

If you are based in the UK and want to volunteer directly with young people through IChemE, you'll need to become a STEM Ambassador before taking part.

Becoming a STEM Ambassador helps you deliver outreach safely and confidently. Through the STEM Ambassador platform, you can connect with schools and STEM engagement opportunities in your local area, giving you more ways to share your experience and inspire the next generation of chemical and process engineers. As part of the registration process, STEM Ambassadors receive a free enhanced DBS check (or the relevant PVG check in Scotland), providing an important safeguarding check when volunteering with children and young people.

When you register, make sure to list IChemE as your professional membership body, this allows us to recognise the wider impact our members are having through STEM engagement and link that to your membership profile ​. 

Already have a DBS check?
You'll still need to become a STEM Ambassador to volunteer directly with young people through IChemE. Registration forms part of our safeguarding approach to school engagement.

Based outside the UK?
STEM Ambassador registration is for volunteers living in the UK. If you're based elsewhere, follow the school or organiser’s safeguarding procedures and any equivalent local requirements.

Join our webinar to find out more
Discover how becoming an IChemE STEM Ambassador can help you share your experience, support young people and inspire future engineers in this webinar hosted by Yasmin Khan from STEM Learning and Leanne Gunn from IChemE's Young Peoples Engagement team. This webinar includes how to sign up as a STEM Ambassador and how to link your outreach activities to IChemE.

Webinar: How to Become an IChemE STEM Ambassador

Evaluating your activities

Keeping a record of your outreach helps us understand the reach and impact our members have and celebrate the contribution our volunteers make.

If you're a UK-based STEM Ambassador, please log your outreach activities on your STEM Ambassador profile, including activities you take part in through IChemE.

If you're based outside the UK, or your activity cannot be recorded through the STEM Ambassador platform, please use our online form to tell us about your activity.