The public engagement and outreach work they support will bring the chemical sciences closer to people’s lives and people’s lives closer to the chemical sciences. They want their funding to connect communities with the chemical sciences, 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.

Aims

• Develop chemists’ public engagement and science communication skills - 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 underrepresented audiences, communities and places with inspiring chemistry engagement opportunities, delivered or coordinated by skilled people

Funding Information

• The Outreach Fund supports Small grants of up to £5,000 and Large grants of between £5,001 – £10,000.

Expected 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-represented audiences are better connected with or represented by chemical science.
  • RSC members have opportunities to develop and/or use their engagement skills.
  • The project or partnership supports positive social outcomes such as an increase in wellbeing, improved confidence, and/or an increased sense of belonging.
  • Families and intergenerational audiences connect with chemistry in fun, creative and participatory ways.
  • Audiences interact with chemistry in and through local contexts.
  • Adults engage with chemists and chemistry to empower them to access, connect and respond to chemistry and societal issues

Eligible Projects

• Funding is only available for projects to be delivered within the UK or Republic of Ireland
• Applications that relate to an existing project will be considered alongside 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
• Applications that relate to scaling up an existing project must include plans for project sustainability and learnings from previous iterations, in addition to reflecting on the impact of the funding in the longer term
• 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
• Applications must be submitted in line with the specified deadlines for consideration in a particular funding round. If an application deadline is missed, it may still be submitted in the instance that the fund remains open to applications, but will not be reviewed by the assessment panel until after the next submission deadline
• Activity phase to be supported by the fund should not fall outside of the timescales detailed on this website for the round of funding you are applying. If your project exceeds these timescales, please get in contact with using the link at the side of this page. Applications for retrospective funding will not be considered
• Applicants must include a detailed breakdown of the financial support requested, it is advised that applicants attach a detailed budget overview to the budget section of the application form in addition to any comments they wish to add
• The project must have a significant aspect which is related to the chemical sciences.

Ineligible Projects

• 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 organizations
  • Projects which are part of an organization's or education institution's usual programme of activities, including Open Days and Taster Days
  • Cover the cost of Crest Award fees (or similar) or venue entry fees
  • Fund salary costs which are already paid by an organisation
  • Projects where the funding does not significantly enhance the activity, for example, where the costs applied for are for promotional materials for a larger project
  • To fund projects for an event which is the same or similar to one that has been previously run, or is currently being run, where there is no or insufficient evidence of project evaluation and/or plans for long-term sustainability of a project
  • Projects where there is an expectation or assumption of input or support from the RSC further than the provision of funds, including support for content development. If you have identified

Eligibility Criteria

• The grant scheme is open to all (individuals and organizations). 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 organizations, arts groups and libraries.
• 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 organization registered in the UK or ROI.
• Previous recipients of any of RSC grants, including the Outreach Fund, are eligible to apply for funding for either a new project, or to scale and develop new strands of work within an existing project.

For more information, visit RSC.

https://www.rsc.org/funding-and-support/funding/outreach-fund#undefined