RSC Hardship Grants are supported by RSC Chemists’ Community Fund. These grants are available to provide support to chemists whose personal financial situation has been negatively impacted by COVID-19.
Grants are normally up to £500, or up to £250 for those who are currently in full-time chemistry education and apprentices.
Please note that these grants have been launched to extend our support to non members. If you are an RSC member, wherever you are based, please see the Chemists' Community Fund for the enhanced support options available to you instead.
Who grants are available for:
- for chemists working, or normally working, in the chemical sciences
- for chemical science apprentices & post-18 students (including PhD students)
To be eligible:
- Your personal financial situation must have been negatively impacted by Covid-19
- You need to based in the UK or Republic of Ireland
- You must be a chemist or studying chemistry*
- Your current monthly income must be below £975 per calendar month after rent or mortgage costs, including student finance support e.g. student loans
- You must have less than £20,000 in savings
- You should have explored your eligibility for state benefits, and subsequently applied for these if eligible
*A chemist is defined as:
A person who works in the chemical sciences and would in principle qualify for one of our RSC professional membership categories e.g. has a degree level qualification in the chemical sciences or equivalent. This includes those on a career break from the chemical sciences, and those trained in the chemical sciences planning to re-enter the profession.
Eligibility for those studying chemistry includes apprenticeships in chemistry or post-18 chemistry education, who would meet the standard of one of our RSC professional membership categories (see Associate Member regulations for example requirements for professional membership).
For any further information regarding this grant please contact us.
To complete an initial application you will require:
- Evidence of your change in situation e.g. change in employment, loss of student income, a referral letter from your university or employer confirming that studies or work have been postponed or ceased due to COVID-19
- Evidence of your status as a chemist e.g. letter from university or employer, qualification or certificates
- Identification which evidences your name and date of birth e.g. passport, drivers licence
- An official document evidencing your name and postal address in the UK or ROI e.g. utility bill, bank statement, phone bill, letter from employer or university
The same item of documentation may cover one or more of these evidence requirements.
Subsequent grant applications
RSC hardship grants are now open for additional applications. You can now re-apply for an additional support if:
- you still remain financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and
- it is four months after any previous grant award
There is a maximum of three applicantions per person. Please contact us if you require any further information.
