British Science Week – Community Grant Scheme

Status: Open to applications

Application Deadline: 09 November 2020

Description

Grants are available for community-based groups and organisations in the UK to create events or activities that engage under-represented audiences as part of British Science Week (BSW).

Details

Maximum Value:£ 2,000Minimum Value:£ 500

Value Notes

Two levels of grants are available:

• £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.

Extended Description

British Science Week (BSW) is an annual programme of science, technology, engineering, and maths events and activities that takes place across the UK in March each year.

BSW is coordinated by the British Science Association (BSA) and funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), a non-departmental public body funded through the science budget of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

The aim of the BSW Community Grants Scheme is to expand the audiences that engage with science and self-identify as having an interest in science by empowering and supporting community groups to run their own science activities during British Science Week. Community-based groups and organisations in the UK that work directly with people who are traditionally hard-to-reach and currently not engaged in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activity can apply.

Latest Information

Applications for projects to take place during British Science Week 2021 are now open and can be submitted until 5pm on 9 November 2020.

Key Criteria

Applications will be considered from community groups that work directly with audiences who are traditionally under-represented and currently not engaged in science activity.

Groups that are underrepresented 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.

Eligible Expenditure

The funding is for activities or events that are celebrating British Science Week in 2021 (5 – 14 March 2021).

Priority will be given to events and activities that show they fit with the BSA’s goal of making science a fundamental part of culture and society by:

• Being embedded in the local community, with community members involved in some aspect of the planning or delivery of the event.
• Showcasing science’s role in everyday life, challenging the idea that science is separate from culture, and/or breaking down stereotypes of what it means to be a scientist or engage with science.
• Leaving a legacy, providing a way for those involved to continue their engagement with science after the event has ended.

Examples of eligible events and activities include, but are not limited to:

• 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.

The grants can be used to cover costs such as:

• Materials.
• Room hire.
• Publicity.
• Speakers.
• Tainers.
• Freelancers.
• Project specific staff costs.
• Audio-visual hire.
• Reasonable volunteer expenses.
• Transport.

For more information on this fund please visit their website here British Science Week – Grants