As part of our 60 Stories for 60 Years campaign, we’re delighted to bring you a parent’s perspective. Ieva has enrolled her son onto multiple Experience Engineering courses and watched him grow in confidence, meet likeminded people and develop light curiosity into a much deeper understanding of engineering. Here’s what Ieva had to say:
How did your child first get involved with The Smallpeice Trust?
I actually found The Smallpeice Trust myself while searching online for engineering opportunities for young people. My son has always been curious and hands-on, so when I came across their courses, they seemed like the perfect fit. I signed him up for one, and it quickly became something he genuinely looked forward to each year.
What did they gain from the experience?
He gained so much. He absolutely loved every course he attended — from general engineering to biomedical engineering to the Amazon Future Engineers programme. He made new friends, worked in teams, and really deepened his understanding of how different areas of engineering work in the real world. Each course gave him more confidence and helped him see what he might want to study in the future.
What would you say to another parent thinking about enrolling their child?
I’d say definitely go for it. The courses are incredibly well run, very supportive, and genuinely inspiring for young people. They offer a safe way for students to explore engineering beyond the classroom, try new things, and meet others who share the same enthusiasm. It’s one of the best decisions I made for my son.
Can you share a moment or experience that captures what The Smallpeice Trust is all about for you?
For me, it was seeing how each course left him buzzing with excitement. After one of the projects, he couldn’t stop talking about what his team built and how they solved problems together. He showed me a well put-together video about the project, which I thought was very creative and showed how the team went above and beyond to complete their project. Seeing him so engaged, confident, and passionate really captured what The Smallpeice Trust is all about —giving young people the space to explore, learn, and discover what they’re capable of.
Liked Ieva’s story? Now read ours.