Funding for Schools to Organise Events during British Science Week

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 Kick-Start Fund for Schools which aims to widen access to events and activities and help the learning and development of children through science and engineering-based activities.

The Fund is open for applications from schools that meet at least one of the following criteria:

Have a high proportion (over 30%) of pupils eligible for pupil premium, early years pupil premium, or equivalent.

Have a high proportion (over 30%) of pupils who are from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Be a small school based in a remote and rural location.

Four types of grants are available:

Kick Start Youth grant: A grant of £150 for a group of three or more students aged 10 to 19 to organise and lead an event or activity in their school during British Science Week. The event should involve other students in the school or the local community.

Kick Start grant: A grant of £300 for a school to run an activity during BSW.

Kick Start More grant: A grant of £700 for a school to run an activity which involves students and the local community. The community can comprise families/carers, children at other schools, members of local community groups or local businesses. There are a very limited number of these grants available and the Fund is looking for proposed events which engage with the wider community in innovative and effective ways.

Combined Kick Start + Youth grant: A grant of £450 for a school to run an activity during British Science Week and an additional event or activity organised and led by a group of students aged 10 to 19.

There are no restrictions on the activities or events that can be run using the funding.

Given the coronavirus/COVID-19 situation, face to face engagement may be limited this year, and therefore applications for activities that remotely engage with other groups are welcome.

Examples of activities that can be funded include:

Online presentations from invited speakers or volunteers on science and/or engineering topics.

Zoom family days where family projects and initiatives are showcased.

Student-led building projects such as a school garden, community lab or pond.

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

More information about this funding opportunity and the application process is available on the GRANTfinder funding information platform. GRANTfinder provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on funding news and policy. To find out more about how GRANTfinder can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.