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Congratulations to volunteer Philip Rose, MBE

Philip Rose explaining an experiment to a pupil

Earlier this month, we were delighted to hear that Philip Rose -a volunteer with Intergen-Trafford at Brooklands Primary School-  had received an MBE in the December 2024 Honour’s list. The recognition was for bringing the concept of enthusiastic engagement of children in science and technology through his Company SciTech. It’s a fascinating story and you can read his personal press release statement below this testimony. Whilst Brooklands Primary School and ourselves at Intergen-Trafford may feel very privileged to have such a skilled volunteer available to help children, Philip was at pains to tell us that everyone can make a worthwhile contribution and that what he gets out of volunteering in a school is what keeps him going back.

“When I go into Brooklands and I walk down the corridor, the number of children who are pleased to see me and want to tell me about things is so edifying. It is so very satisfying and rewarding because you’re getting feedback that you are being useful. This is probably the motivator for all volunteers to return week after week. Yes, it gives you something to do in retirement but it’s so much more than that. Whatever you do, you are valued. For me it’s simply also that I’ve always enjoyed the company and being able to talk to children.”

Philip has been volunteering at Brookland Primary School for about two years now. He volunteers every Friday afternoon and mostly works with a small group of children who are dyslexic. Because Philip is himself dyslexic, he can make a notable and observable difference with those children, starting with confidence building. Indeed, the children respond well to him since he has been, and of course still is, dyslexic.

Unusually, because of his background in science too, the school is less prescriptive about what Philip brings to the children, and he admits that he is not your typical volunteer. Indeed, schools do not expect volunteers to have specialist skills in any areas of the curriculum and Philip noted that at Brooklands Primary School, “all volunteers are well appreciated”.

We warmly congratulate Philip on his achievements, and we do hope that he will stay volunteering with us for many years to come.

Founder of SciTech receives an MBE

“In 1990, I began to abandon my work as a computer systems analyst in favour of the far less lucrative but far more rewarding, work of bringing the excitement of learning to young children. This was a huge step into the unknown and without the support and encouragement of my wife Amy, this incredible journey would not have begun.

In 1991 fifty children attended the first SciTech in a small primary school. It was so well received that in 1992 we moved to the then called, Manchester Polytechnic where we reached the capacity of 300 children and so the concept of enthusiastic engagement of children in science and technology was truly begun.

The self-evident success of the SciTech approach meant that in subsequent years the summer schools not only delivered spectacular hands-on science to capacity child audiences but also to the delivery of in school and public lectures across Europe, Canada, Vietnam and South Africa.

I have been asked if I see this MBE as a reward for all my hard work.  – I do not – Since the start, I have been feasting on the rewards of my work by engaging with and witnessing the pleasure and progress of the thousands of children that have received the positive inspiration that SciTech inspires.  The MBE is a recognition. A recognition not only of my vision but of the incredible people who have and continue, to make SciTech such a wonderful platform for children’s learning.

I retire happy knowing that the SciTech vision thrives and is being carried forward by Tony and his dedicated staff.”
The post picture was taken in South Africa.

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