VN school ambassador scheme opens for applications
The VN Futures School Ambassadors Scheme aims to raise awareness of the veterinary nursing role.
The RCVS has opened applications for its VN Futures School Ambassadors scheme and is looking for registered veterinary nurses and student veterinary nurses in their final year of study to apply.
Launched to encourage children to choose a career in veterinary nursing, the VN Futures School Ambassadors Scheme aims to raise awareness of the role and how rewarding looking after animals can be.
Through the scheme, ambassadors will be able to access resources and support to enable them to deliver career information to children between the ages of nine and 16. The volunteer will be able to tailor the talks to suit themselves, with suggested topics including how to become a veterinary nurse and real-life scenarios that occur in practice.
The launch follows work by the School Ambassadors Development Group, in which volunteer VN Futures School Ambassadors developed resources and carried out talks in classrooms, at careers fairs and virtually.
Jill Macdonald, RCVS VN Futures Lead, said: “Like so many VNs, I didn’t learn about a veterinary nursing career until I had left school. Many children are passionate about animal welfare, and we hope that hearing a talk from an enthusiastic veterinary nurse will inspire children to consider a career in veterinary nursing. We want to talk to as many budding VNs as possible to help them learn about how valuable and rewarding a veterinary nursing career can be.”
VNs and SVNs that apply to the scheme will undergo induction training and a DBS check provided by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Learning. They will also become members of the STEM Community and be able to access the many resources that STEM offers.
Ambassadors will also receive access to the VN Futures School Ambassadors website, which includes a host of veterinary nursing-specific resources to download, including interactive worksheets, ideas for approaches to school talks, and colourful careers guides.
Racheal Marshall, VN School Ambassador, commented: “Through my ambassador role, I’ve delivered several online sessions and it's been a great experience to meet children of all ages and talk to them about what VNs actually do. Many of the children I speak to are really interested in animal welfare and may become the VNs of the future.
“Being a VN School Ambassador allows me to talk to them about how they can turn their passion for looking after animals into a career. My ambition as an ambassador is to help increase the diversity of the profession by speaking to children who may not have considered vet nursing as a career option.
For more information about the scheme and to register your interest, visit vnfutures.org.uk
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
