One-line description:
To assist the competitors and their accompanying adults in the National Science & Engineering Competition finals held at The Big Bang 2012 (run by the British Science Association).
Minimum requirements:
EITHER participation (as a competitor or a competitor care volunteer) in a previous year’s National Science & Engineering Competition final / Big Bang Regional Fair
OR a background in a Science, Technology, Education or Maths (STEM) subject.
Experience of working with young people preferable.
Volunteers should be 18 years old or over
Minimum Time commitment:
Competitor Care Volunteers will be asked to work an approximate full day shift of 8:00am to 4:00pm with lunch and breaks included. These times will be confirmed closer to the event. Volunteers will be expected to attend a health and safety briefing daily, the time of this to be arranged.
We are also seeking volunteers to assist with National Science & Engineering Competition set-up on-site on the afternoon of Wednesday 14th March. To be eligible, you must sign up for one day of The Fair (Thursday – Saturday), but you do not have to be assigned a Competitor Care role to assist.
Preparation required:
Compulsory: review of all general volunteer briefing, health & safety, and logistics documentation.
Compulsory: Review of all preparatory documentation on the National Science & Engineering Competition and its structure.
Suggested: Review of showfloor plan, and workshop timetables/locations as well as main points of information.
Competitor Care volunteers will be on the showfloor at all times and may be approached by visitors with queries unrelated to the Competition.
Skills learnt:
People skills
Lateral thinking
Problem solving
Acting on initiative
Other notes:
Most of the above-mentioned documents will be made available online in early January 2012, with more being added in the run up to the event.
This role does not involve judging Competition entries. Judges will be recruited separately to the main Big Bang volunteer programme. The aim of this role is to provide support, advice and assistance to the 11-19 year-old students presenting their National Science & Engineering Competition entries. These competitors will be manning their stands throughout the three days, and may require practical assistance – anything from a glass of water, to locating an electrician to fix a blown fuse – as well as confirmation of process and timings throughout the event. The Competitor Care Volunteers will either provide that assistance directly, or pass on queries to the relevant event people and make sure it is dealt with. In this way, Competitor Care Volunteers work to ensure that Competitors have a trouble-free time at The Fair.