Parent/Guardian FAQs

Everything you need to know to support your child getting involved with the In2scienceUK programme.

What does the programme include?

• A one or two week in-person work placement, during which participants gain hands-on experience working with leading scientists, researchers and professionals.
• Careers, employability and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) workshops to prepare young people for university, apprenticeships and work.
• Public Engagement competitions.
• Access to our team to support with careers and university admission guidance.
• Access to our Alumni Network of over 1,000 current students, researchers & employees at some of the UK’s most famous institutions.

Our programme takes place between the 25^th July through 26^th August 2022, with an induction day sometime between mid-June to early July. Events and placement sessions will be scheduled at specific times throughout this 5-week period and most workshops will be held virtually.

Will the Programme Cost Anything?

No, In2scienceUK provides free summer STEM placements for low-income and disadvantaged students.

We offer all of our students a bursary to cover their costs during their time on the placement.

Who is Eligible?

You can see our eligibly criteria here.

What Safeguarding Protections are in Place?

All our staff and volunteers sign a code of conduct outlining good practice.

Volunteers receive training on safeguarding during their inductions and in their written guide. Students also receive guidance on good practice and reporting concerns in their induction and written guide.

All In2scienceUK staff undergo DBS checks. If volunteers will spend prolonged time alone with a young person without other adults present, they also undergo a DBS check.

We have strict reporting procedures in place.

How Can I Best Support My Child on the Programme?

Part of the In2scienceUK programme is the prospect of a degree of independence, for example travel to placements or arranging timetables. However, a degree of support is always helpful.

Crucially, ensure parental consent forms are filled out quickly and returned with a signature quickly. You can email [email protected] if you have questions.

Encourage your child to read emails and information from us very carefully, especially the written student guide. This is especially true when preparing for the placement! It is also a good idea to discuss their travel plans with them if they are not used to travelling alone.

Encourage your child to attend as many workshops as possible. Not every workshop is relevant for everyone but many are. Where possible, try to provide a quiet space where your child can attend workshops, take notes and ask questions.

In general, be supportive and encouraging. Try to help them find a healthy balance between enjoying everything a summer can bring to teenage life and getting the most from this great programme of activities.

How Can I Best Support My Child after Programme?

Needless to say, your child is now entering a very important period of their life and it is good for them to have you there to give support. Likewise, a good step is to suggest they join our alumni community to receive lifelong support. We will send them information about this at the end of summer.

We’ve been supporting young people get into university, apprenticeships and careers for over a decade. The best advice we can give is to gather as much information as possible. University websites and open days, the government apprenticeships website, and the National Careers Service are great sources.

As your child becomes an adult, it’s also important to be there for support but ultimately remember that this is their decision and they need to make it from their own reasoning. Good conversations tend to come from questions, not statements. For example, ‘why does this interest you?’ or ‘what path do you think this will lead you down?’ instead of ‘that will be boring’ or ‘there is no future in that.’

Why is a STEM career a good choice for my child?
Careers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) fields have lots of advantages. If your child is interested in this area, then it is a great idea for them to start doing their research.

Workers in STEM fields receive on average 20% higher salaries over their lifetime. There is also currently an annual national shortfall of 40,000 STEM workers, so employment prospects are generally better than other sectors. Qualitatively, STEM workers also report that they find it easier to transfer between careers easily and one of the groups most likely to report that they love their job.

Who do I get in contact if I have further questions?

• If you have a general questions, please contact [email protected] including your name and the name of your child