Education Initiatives Fund

The Education Initiatives Fund is a source of small amounts of financial support for novel educational activities. These activities should:

• be aimed at school and college aged students
• contain appropriate chemical science content for the target age group
• be novel: in this context 'novel' should be interpreted as new to the geographical region.   

The fund cannot be used to support existing activities or for room hire, catering or the purchase of equipment for institutions which should properly be funded from other sources. 

The funding year runs between 1st January to 31st December and applicants must apply in writing to the Assistant Education Manager, Schools and Colleges by 31st October of the preceding year.  Applicants should apply by email or by post; no application form is available.

The application must have the written support of the relevant Education Division, Region or Local Section of the RSC. 

All applications should state: 

• the objectives of the activity and any related activity
• an indication of why the activity is considered novel
• a detailed breakdown of the overall proposed expenditure
• the desired amount of funding and what it will be spent on.      

As the fund is relatively small, the selection committee look favourably on requests for funding up to about £1000 but generally not beyond this figure. Applications that do not contain all the information listed above will be returned.

The proposals are considered by:

• The Chairman of Education & Qualifications Board
• The Chairman of Education Division Council
• The Chairman of the Committee for Schools & Colleges      

Decisions are normally made by 31 December.

The criteria on which applications will be judged are:

1. The extent of the applicability of the proposal to enhancing work in schools and colleges (Note: funding is NOT restricted to schools and colleges themselves).
2. The clarity of the intended output and any performance indicators.
3. The likelihood of delivery within the proposed timetable and within the funding requested.
4. The novel nature of the project within the area.      

For further information or if you would like to discuss proposals, contact the Assistant Education Manager, Schools and Colleges.