Funding for Science Events that Engage Under-Represented Audiences

Community groups in the UK can apply for grants to create events or activities that engage under-represented audiences as part of British Science Week 2021.

British Science Week (BSW), an annual programme of science, technology, engineering, and maths events and activities, will be taking place between 5 and 14 March 2021. Applications have now opened for the BSW Community Grants Scheme which aims to expand the audiences that engage with science and self-identify as having an interest in science.

Community groups can apply for funding to run their own science activities during British Science Week, working directly with people who are traditionally hard-to-reach and currently not engaged in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activity. Groups that are traditionally under-represented in science include:

• People who are Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME).
• People with low socio economic status (SES), including people disadvantaged in terms of education and income.
• People with a physical or mental condition or impairment.
• People living in a remote and rural location, defined as settlements of less than 10,000 people.
• Girls and women.

Any project that engages at least one of these groups during British Science Week 2021 is eligible for funding.

Examples of activities that can be supported include:

• Sports science sessions with football and rugby clubs.
• Community-created science exhibitions in places of worship, community gardens, libraries and pubs.
• Community-led research projects and experiments with youth clubs and groups with special needs.
• Scientifically-informed theatre productions and art activities.

There are two levels of grants that groups can apply for:

• £500 grants to run one or more events during British Science Week.
• £2,000 grants to run one or more events during British Science Week, as well as follow-up activities that will lead to continued engagement after British Science Week.

The grants can be used for materials, room hire, publicity, speakers, trainers, freelancers, project-specific staff costs, audio-visual hire, reasonable volunteer expenses, transport or other costs of running the event or activity.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on 9 November 2020.

Full details…