Celebrating STEM Stories: Meet Francesca - Technician Commitment Manager. Living with long-term conditions, she champions accessibility and leads the campus disability network. Most jobs can be made accessible with the right support. Watch her story: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsyP...

Just one week to go! SEND in STEM: Making Labs Accessible 📅 Wed 8 Oct | 4–5 PM (BST) Featuring Dr Katherine Deane (UEA): lived experience + research expertise on inclusive labs. Email to join or let us know you access needs: [email protected] #AccessibilityInSTEM #SENDinSTEMNetwork

We’re thrilled for Chloe (founder member of our Youth Group and our first-ever Apprentice Board Member) who has just become a published author at only 18! Her debut: Chloe and Charlie: The Curious Club. Get it here: www.healearth.co/books #YouthVoice #DisabledLed #Neurodiversity

To out community: Autism isn’t caused by parenting, vaccines or headlines. It’s a natural neurodevelopmental difference. Change the myths & stigma. Science matters. Language matters. Watch Julies videos: - youtu.be/byJ-AgQHiBE - youtu.be/1sxi3hlmnAE #AutismAcceptance #Neurodiversity

Youth Group Launch! 🌟 📅 Mon 13 Oct 2025 | ⏰ 6–7pm | 💻 Online (free, live captions) Join our first session with mathematician & artist Ayliean, leading a fun, inclusive maths activity!🎉 Sign up for free: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lightyear-... #FutureLeaders #LightyearYouthGroup #LightyearFoundation

SEND in STEM: Making Labs Accessible - Revised Date Announced Weds 8 Oct | 4–5 PM (BST) Join us + Dr Katherine Deane (UEA) as she shares her expertise as a researcher & wheelchair user on making STEM labs more inclusive. 📩 Access needs or more info? DM or email [email protected]

New Resource! 🌟 Thanks to PA Foundation funding, we’ve launched our free STEM Inspiration Pack to ignite curiosity in disabled & neurodivergent students. Inside: • Inspiring role models • Adaptable experiments • Inclusive, fun activities Check it out here: www.lightyearfoundation.org/resources

Lightyear Foundation is seeking freelance educators & science communicators to deliver inclusive STEM for SEND students in #NorthernIreland. Check out what we want from you here: www.lightyearfoundation.org/join-us For more info email [email protected] #STEM #FreelanceOpportunity

Our CEO Jeff and Senior Programmes Manager Emma were honoured to attend the #ThirdSectorAwards. We are proud to have been finalists alongside #Digit<all>, #SharedInterestFoundation and #SkylarksCharity. Congratulations to the winners #VeteransWithDogs and the highly commended #TheMovement.

Celebrating STEM Stories: Meet Animesh An autistic engineering teacher at the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre, he shows how diversity fuels creativity in problem-solving. 🎥 Watch his story: youtu.be/unSynBwWbdI?... #CelebratingSTEM #Inclusion #Engineering #

What an inspiring week at the 14th Intl Conference on Compressors & their Systems! 🎉 First time #LightyearFoundation partnered & we were proud to join 4 brilliant neurodivergent engineers 💡 Huge thanks to #City,StGeorge’s & #Smallpeice Trust! 🙏 #BigGive

Eight students from #JohnWatsonSchool joined a Work Inspiration trip to @prodriveofficial.bsky.social 🚗💡 From race car design to engine testing, they explored cutting-edge motorsport tech & met inspiring engineers 🔧🏁 Huge thanks to #Prodrive for inspiring future innovators! #FutureEngineers

We’ve hit 50 sign-ups for SEND in STEM! Event Details: Making Labs Accessible 🗓 Wed 3 Sept, 4–5 PM BST 🎙 With Dr Katherine Deane (UEA) Join us to explore accessibility in STEM labs. 👉 Register: lnkd.in/esEGMpuQ #STEMInclusion #SENDinSTEM

Fantastic news! A huge thank you to #CellAndGeneTherapyCatapult for donating £6,500 💜 Their support helps break down barriers to STEM for disabled & neurodivergent young people.🔬 Check out their incredible work in cell & gene therapy: ct.catapult.org.uk #ThankYou #FutureScientists

“Wow, it was so impressive and such a lovely experience for our pupils… Thank you to Lightyear Foundation for making this possible.” 💡 Big thanks to our partners #immersive_experiences for hosting an amazing STEM Futures trip to #ysgolstchristophers 🚀 STEM really is for everyone 🔭

Yesterday was Int Youth Day! 🎉 We celebrated with our new Lightyear Youth Group, where disabled young people connect, share ideas, & make STEM inclusive. led by youth voices because its their future www.lightyearfoundation.org/lightyear-youth-group #InternationalYouthDay #STEMForAll #YouthVoice

🔬SEND in STEM: Making Labs Accessible Wed 3rd Sept | 4-5PM (BST) Join Dr Katherine Deane (UEA) to explore how we can make STEM labs accessible for disabled & neurodivergent researchers. Register via Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/send-in-st... #SENDinSTEMNetwork #LightyearFoundation

Our biggest Work Inspiration visit yet! 30 Castledon School students explored DNA extraction (meet “Gregg” & “Alfata 42”), pipetting, and life as scientists. “It’s life changing,” said a teacher. Thank you Castledon & the amazing Wellcome Genome Campus team! #FutureScientists #WorkInspiration

Lightyear Youth Group has launched last week! A new inclusive community for neurodivergent & disabled young people in STEM. Led by YOU, evolving with YOUR voices. 💡 First official meeting this autumn! 🍂 Follow us and DM for how to join! #YouthLed #STEM #Inclusion #LightyearYouthGroup

Double the Impact! Pledge £100+ before 29 Aug to unlock match funding for children with disabilities in STEM. Your gift = double the resources, double the joy, double the change. Already pledged? ❤️ Like, repost & tag a friend! community.biggive.org/s/pledge?cam... #DoubleTheImpact #BigGivePledge

1 week to go 🚀 Join us online on 30 July, 2–3:15 PM for talks on STEM, creativity & inclusion Featuring: • Khalil Thirlaway (science & neurodivergence) • James Arthur (maths & comedy) • Kirsty Jones (disability in STEM) • Lightyears own Hannah and Sammy #LightyearFoundation #LightyearYouthGroup

Great day with #BriarwoodSchool for a work inspiration trip to #ScienceCreates 🌿 With hands-on science making seaweed pods as a plastic alternative. Ending with a tour of Science Creates incubator. Real science, real inspiration🌍 #LightyearFoundation #PlasticAlternatives #WorkInspirationTrips

We’re thrilled to be shortlisted for Small Charity of the Year at the #ThirdSectorAwards! 💥 Proud to be a disabled-led org making STEM accessible for all. Congrats to our fellow finalists and thanks to everyone involved in the awards. #STEMforAll #DisabilityInclusion #LightyearFoundation

A brilliant first sensory STEM Futures session with the amazing #LimeAcademyRavensbourne crew! From playdoh to ping pong balls, learners explored science their way - hands-on, and inclusive💜 Huge thanks to #Avantor for making it happen! #STEMFutures #AvantorFoundation #LightyearFoundation

It’s #DisabilityPrideMonth! We're celebrating the strength, creativity & diversity of the disabled community. At #LightyearFoundation, we’re making STEM a space where young people are empowered to lead, create & thrive. Want to help? Follow, share or connect - inclusion starts with action.

New on the #EngineeringMatters podcast: "Breaking Barriers to STEM with Lightyear Foundation" Hear how our disabled-led team is reimagining STEM with sensory science, labs & real leadership for young people. 🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6Geg... #DisabilityInSTEM #LightyearFoundation

The countdown is on! You’ve got 7 weeks to pledge £100 or more and help us unlock match funding to inspire more children with disabilities through STEM. 📅 Deadline: 29 August 🎯 This is how we Double the Impact. Are you in? 🔗 Pledge today: community.biggive.org/s/pledge?cam...

Are you 14–25, D/deaf, disabled or neurodivergent, and passionate about STEM? Join us online on 30th July, 2:00–3:15pm for the Lightyear Youth Group launch. Free to attend, just scan the QR code, and we will see you there #LightyearFoundation #LightyearYouthGroup #YouthLeadership

We had an amazing time at the Rochdale Science Extravaganza, a space where science truly is for everyone! From sensory circuits to inclusive STEM fun, it was a joy to see families engaged and SEND participants feeling seen, heard, and equal. #LightyearFoundation #RochdaleScienceExtravaganza

We took 12 Granta School students to the Wellcome Genome Campus. DNA, pipettes, lab tours, and big science energy! “I got a really big bit of DNA!” “It was so calming pipetting... like yoga.” Huge thanks to the Wellcome team for the inspiration! 💜 #DNA #LightyearFoundation #WorkInspirationTrips

Disabled & neurodivergent young people (14–25) - this is your space! Ever felt like STEM wasn’t for you? Let’s change that. Join us for the launch of the Lightyear Foundation Youth Group 🗓️ 30 July | ⏰ 2:00–3:15 PM |📍Online A space with and for you, where your voice leads. More info coming soon 👀

This week’s #STEMFutures Community of Practice asked: what does inclusive STEM look like in special schools? Huge thanks to #WestKirbySchool for sharing their brilliant approach. More of this here: wkrs.co.uk/stem Key message: Reduce barriers, involve families, prepare learners beyond the classroom.

"We’ll be at the #RochdaleScienceExtravaganza this Sunday! Join us for hands-on STEM fun with circuits and electricity, plus a sensory planetarium session at 11am from #ImmersiveExperiences. FREE entry, no booking needed. Come say hi! #RochdaleScienceFestival #LightyearFoundation"

Last week our CEO was thrilled to meet two of our amazing STEM Futures schools - #TheOaksSpecialistCollege and #LimeAcademyRavensbourne! Together with students and staff we’re building a future where STEM is truly for everyone. #STEMFutures #InclusiveSTEM #STEMforAll #LightyearFoundation

It’s Small Charity Week 💜 At Lightyear Foundation, we may be small - but we’re making a big difference. We’re working to open up STEM for disabled & neurodivergent young people across the UK. Small charities. Big impact. #SmallCharityWeek #MakingADifference #InclusiveSTEM #SEND #STEMforAll

What a pleasure being at the "Experts by Experience" Showcase at #TheOaksSpecialistCollege! Five brilliant students shared how they use assistive tech in everyday life. Truly creative practical, and inspiring. We're excited to see what they have in store for the future! #STEMFutures #AssistiveTech

Last week we finished some training sessions with one of our STEM Futures partner schools. From personalisation to wellbeing-first approaches, it’s inspiring to see inclusive practice in action. Together, we’re building a more inclusive future for STEM. #STEMFutures #InclusiveLearning

Huge thanks to everyone who joined the STEM and SEND Conference 2025 in York! 💡 It was a powerful day of inclusion, innovation & practical ideas for making STEM accessible to all learners. Let’s keep the momentum going! #STEMinclusion #SENDeducation

Lightyear Foundation needs your nomination! We’re eligible for a £5,000 grant via the @BenefactGroup Movement for Good special draw (16–22 June), supporting charities working with children and young people. Nominate bit.ly/NominateLigh... #MovementForGood #LightyearFoundation #ChildrenAndYoungPeople

This week (and always), we celebrate the strengths, creativity, and voices of people with learning disabilities. Young people with learning disabilities belong in STEM. As learners, leaders, and innovators. Your ideas matter. Your future matters. #LDWeek2025 #LearningDisabilityWeek2025 #STEMForAll

We're looking for disabled or neurodivergent STEM role models! Especially in engineering but all fields welcome. Let’s show that STEM is for everyone. Apply: forms.gle/eHzFwm9G779y... 📩 [email protected] #DisabledInSTEM #NeurodivergentVoices #STEMStories

STEM Futures 💡 Across 4 nations, 9 diverse schools are exploring inclusive STEM for disabled & neurodivergent students through hands-on, student-led learning. Curiosity is growing. Confidence is building. This is just the beginning. 💜 Thanks to teachers, students and #avantorFoundation #STEMFutures

We saw an article from the BBC of Jamie Oliver talking about Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution — have you seen it yet? 👀 Great to see big names spotlighting neurodivergence. At Lightyear, we’re making STEM accessible for all. #STEMForAll #JamiesDyslexiaRevolution www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

🌈Happy Pride Month! At Lightyear Foundation, we believe in a future where everyone can thrive. We're proud to celebrate #Pride2025 and even prouder to work with amazing LGBTQ+ scientists who inspire every day. Together we will build a compassionate, equitable world.💜 #CommunityMatters #STEMforAll

💜 It’s #VolunteersWeek and we’re celebrating our amazing volunteers at Lightyear Foundation! Thank you for your time, heart, and commitment to breaking down barriers for disabled children. We appreciate you this week - and always! #ThankYou #InclusionMatters #LightyearFoundation

Partnering with Dr Katherine Deane (@UEA), we’re working to make labs safer, more accessible, and inclusive for disabled researchers and students. Follow our journey to break down barriers in STEM. #DisabilityInSTEM #AccessibleLabs #STEMForAll

Our F1 Engineering Lightyear Labs (in partnership with STEM Racing) are all about making STEM hands-on, exciting, and inclusive. Thanks to the Ingenious Award from the Royal Academy of Engineering for making it possible. 🎥 Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5G8... #STEM #FutureEngineers #F1inSchools

LightyearFoundation and STEMLearningUK are hosting the STEM and SEND Conference 2025 on 17 June in York! A one-day event of: Inclusive STEM strategies, keynotes, workshops, networking opportunities Book now: www.stem.org.uk/cpd/542682/s... #SEND #STEM #Inclusion #Education #LightyearFoundation

STEM employers! Join us at the National SEND Employment Forum on June 2nd (10am–1pm) to explore how young people with SEND are transforming the future of STEM. ✅ Free to attend – RSVP by May 23 📍 National Grid House, Warwick Technology Park 📧 [email protected] #SENDinSTEM #STEMCareers

On 29th April, Lightyear Foundation took 11 students from Kingsweston School on a Work Inspiration Trip to Renishaw. They explored advanced engineering tech, used Tinkercad to design 3D-printed keyrings, and learned about apprenticeships in STEM. #InclusiveSTEM #WorkInspiration #STEMEducation