Royal Society of Chemistry Outreach Fund (UK and Ireland)

Deadline: 04-Sep-23

The Royal Society of Chemistry has launched the Outreach Fund to support members, individuals and organisations in order to enable them to run chemistry-based public and schools engagement activities.

The Royal Society of Chemistry funds a broad range of projects and organisations that connect communities with the chemical sciences. Through this they want to help bring different people and organisations together to share ideas, develop meaningful partnerships, inspire new ways of working, and encourage dialogue about the importance and role of chemistry for making the world a better place.

Through the fund they aim to support projects that:

• Develop science communication skills of chemists – building capacity and opportunities for chemists and chemical scientists to engage with schools and public audiences
• Engage with school students – inspiring and raising aspirations of student audiences to nurture a future generation passionate about the chemical sciences
• Engage with public audiences – involving a wide range of people in relevant contemporary issues in the chemical sciences
• Provide under-represented audiences, communities and places with inspiring chemistry engagement opportunities, delivered or coordinated by skilled people

Engagement encompasses many approaches with diverse people in different settings – from schools and laboratories to museums and gardens. They are interested in funding projects and organisations that work with different audiences including youth, families, young carers, older adults or school groups. They are particularly interested in funding work with under-served and under-represented audiences including people with disabilities and people facing social, economic and educational disadvantage.

Funding Information

• Small Grant (of up to £5,000)
• Large Grant (between £5,001 and £10,000)

Outcomes

They are currently prioritising funding for projects that have one or more of the following outcomes:

• Audiences are engaged with issues around sustainability linked to chemical sciences.
• Under-served audiences are better connected with or represented by chemical science.
• RSC members have opportunities to develop and/or use their engagement skills.
• Wellbeing is enhanced or supported through the activity of the project or partnership.
• Families connect with chemistry in fun, creative and participatory ways.
• Audiences are engaged with chemistry in and through local contexts.

Eligibility Criteria

The grant scheme is open to all (individuals and organisations). This includes, but is not limited to, members of the Royal Society of Chemistry, member-led groups, researchers in academia or industry, museums, community groups, not-for-profit organisations, arts groups and libraries. To be eligible for the grant scheme, applications must satisfy the following:

• Applications are only open to people aged 18 and over who are either a UK or Republic of Ireland (ROI) resident (with a UK or ROI address and bank account), or who are applying on behalf of an organisation registered in the UK or ROI
• Funding is only available for projects to be delivered within the UK or Republic of Ireland
• Previous recipients of any of RSC grants, including the Outreach Fund, are eligible to apply for funding for either a new project, or to build upon an existing project
• Where appropriate applicants should seek to engage with members of the Royal Society of Chemistry and member groups (e.g. to inform the chemistry content, to develop long-term sustainability plans, to engage volunteers to take part in the activities). However, the lead applicant is not required to be a member
• Applications that relate to an existing project will be considered alongside plans for project sustainability and evidence of sufficient evaluation of the existing project (including evaluation forms received where the existing project has been previously funded by the RSC). If there is no or insufficient evaluation to support such applications, they will not be considered by the panel
• Applicants should not resubmit an unsuccessful Outreach Fund application unless invited to do so
• Applicants wishing to submit multiple applications in one funding round might wish to submit one single application for a coherent programme to the large grant scheme
• The review panel monitor the number of applications submitted by individuals and institutions for each funding round, if multiple applications from the same individual or institution are received in one funding round, the panel may choose to consider all such applications in relation to each other

Ineligible

Outreach Fund grants will not be awarded to:

• Projects where there is no significant component relating to the chemical sciences
• Projects which do not involve engaging schools or the public with the chemical sciences, with the purpose of disseminating knowledge in line with the fund criteria and aims
• Cover the cost of hardware, apparatus or equipment (e.g. microscopes, digital cameras, printers, computers), unless it is shown to be integral to the project, and will be used beyond the project lifetime to communicate chemistry
• Projects intending solely to develop or deliver staff or teacher CPD (continuing professional development)
• Projects which aim to generate a financial surplus for commercial organisations
• Projects which are part of an organisation’s or education institution’s usual programme of activities, including Open Days and Taster Days
• Cover the cost of Crest Award fees or venue entry fees
• Fund salary costs which are already paid by an organisation

For more information, visit Royal Society of Chemistry.