After spending ten years in fundraising, supporting charities focused on food, health and adults, Emma joined The Smallpeice Trust to help create opportunities for young people instead. Since joining in 2024, she’s played a key role in securing funding that enables more children and young people to experience inspiring STEM activities, particularly through the Trust’s growing community programmes. Passionate about making STEM accessible to everyone, Emma reflects on what brought her to the Trust, the impact she’s proud to have made, and the moments that remind her why the work matters. Here’s her story.
When did you first join the Smallpeice Trust, and what drew you to it?
After spending ten years in fundraising for charities focused on food, health and supporting adults, I was ready for a new challenge. I wanted to use my experience to help inspire young people, so joining The Smallpeice Trust and becoming part of a charity that’s opening doors through STEM felt like the perfect next step.
Although I’ve only been here for two years, it’s been incredible to see our community programmes grow. We’ve expanded beyond the classroom, taking our STEM activities into youth centres and libraries, giving even more young people the opportunity to discover engineering and build their confidence.
What are you most proud of as we celebrate 60 years?
A big part of my role is writing funding proposals that help make our work possible. I’m incredibly proud to have played a part in securing support that allows us to reach more young people, particularly those who may not otherwise have access to these opportunities. Seeing those ideas become reality is hugely rewarding.
Can you share a moment or experience that captures what The Smallpeice Trust is all about for you?
One moment that will always stay with me was watching a team of girls on a STEM Day celebrate after completing their engineering challenge. They were beaming with pride, and many of them had started the day without really knowing what an engineer did. Watching their confidence grow in just a few hours perfectly captures what The Smallpeice Trust is all about – helping young people realise what they’re capable of and opening their eyes to exciting possibilities for the future.
As The Smallpeice Trust celebrates 60 years of inspiring young people, Emma is proud to play a part in helping the charity reach even more children through the power of STEM. From securing funding for new community programmes to seeing young people discover engineering for the very first time, she’s passionate about creating opportunities that can change futures. She looks forward to continuing to grow the Trust’s impact, helping more young people realise their potential and inspiring the next generation of engineers, innovators and problem-solvers.
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