We believe that chemistry should be for everyone. Through the Inclusion & Diversity strategy to 2025, our goal is to increase the diversity of people choosing the chemical sciences and fulfilling their potential for a truly inclusive community. 

The Royal Society of Chemistry's Is Chemistry for All project highlighted social and economic inequalities that were limiting the aspirations, career choices and progression within the chemical sciences for Individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds. 

To ensure accessibility remains a priority, alongside competing priorities, the socioeconomic inclusion special call aims to further understand and support the needs and challenges of chemists from low socioeconomic backgrounds, taking an intersectional approach with protected characteristics.  

Improving our understanding will require better data, focusing on the current barriers and challenges faced by individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds to chemistry education and/or their progression in the chemical sciences, including the long-term impact of COVID-19.  

Ultimately this work will help us to identify ways that the Chemists' Community Fund and the Royal Society of Chemistry can support those individuals directly, including through Chemists' Community Fund grant schemes where applicable and respond to the needs of the chemical sciences at pace and scale. 

On this page

Funding available to support chemists from low socioeconomic backgrounds

Applications are now open and will be reviewed on a rolling basis, as they are received. The deadline for applications is Sunday 16 July 2023.
  • We have created a special call to support community-driven projects through our Inclusion & Diversity Fund 
  • We will consider individual applications up to the value of £5,000 
  • Funding greater than £5,000 may be considered for large-scale projects  

View a list of the projects which have received Inclusion & Diversity funding in the past.

Eligible projects or events will fulfil the following criteria: 

We particularly encourage applications for projects or events that focus on intersectionality to fully understand the multiple disadvantages due to different protected characteristics.

  • The project must take place in the United Kingdom between September 2023 and September 2024 
  • The project or event must focus on improving Inclusive access and Inclusive progression within the chemical sciences for individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds 
  • Projects or events could be online, in person or a blend of online and in-person meetings with a focus on fostering supportive and effective communities 
  • The applicant must agree to complete an evaluation of the project or event using the format provided by the Royal Society of Chemistry 
We are making funding available for other community-driven projects to improve diversity and inclusion in the chemical sciences. See our Inclusion & Diversity Fund for further details.

Applications FAQs

Who can apply

The grant scheme is open to everyone (individuals and organisations). This includes, but is not limited to, members of the Royal Society of Chemistry, member-led groups, primary and secondary educators, researchers in academia or industry, museums, community groups, not-for-profit organisations, arts groups, and libraries.

Previous recipients of any of our grants are welcome to apply for funding. We expect the project or event to be new, or if applied to an existing project or event, for funding to enable the applicant to improve, introduce something new or scale up a project or event.

Applicants should not resubmit an unsuccessful application unless invited to do so.

 

This special call will open to applications on Thursday 1 June 2023 and will close on Sunday 16 July 2023. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, as they are received. 

Eligibility

The proposed project must focus on supporting socioeconomic inclusion in the chemical sciences – outreach or chemistry research projects will not be considered. If your application is considered more suitable for the Outreach Fund we will contact you and seek your approval to transfer your application. 

We welcome applications at all levels of experience relating to a range of audiences will be considered, including different age groups, career stages, and sectors within the United Kingdom. 

For further detail on our audiences for inclusion and diversity activities, please see our Inclusion and diversity strategy. 

Please note that the Inclusion & Diversity Fund is intended for projects that directly investigate or address inclusion and diversity issues in the chemical sciences. The Inclusion & Diversity Fund is not intended to fund chemistry research.

Assessment criteria

All applications should clearly show that the proposed project: 

  • is centred on improving socioeconomic inclusion in the chemical sciences community 
  • is relevant to our Inclusion and diversity strategy 
  • has a clearly defined target audience 
  • has a clearly defined intended impact 
  • is deliverable; and 
  • includes clear evaluation plans

In addition, applicants should show that the requested funding will make a significant difference to their ability to deliver the project.

Restrictions on funding 

Inclusion and Diversity Fund grants will not be awarded to:

  • Projects which do not focus on investigating or addressing inclusion and diversity issues (such as outreach projects or chemistry research projects) 
  • Projects whose primary aim is to generate a financial surplus 
  • Projects for which our support would not significantly enhance the activity 
  • Projects that are part of an educational institution's usual programme of activities, including Open Days and Taster Days 
  • Cover the cost of general-purpose hardware, apparatus or equipment or cover any employment costs of project staff that receive a salary from the applying organisation

What do we mean by Socioeconomic Background

Socioeconomic background is used to describe the differences between groups of people relating to their social class and financial situation. 

The Socio-economic diversity and inclusion employers’ toolkit, created by the Bridge Group, gives practical and cost-effective recommendations to help ensure that talented and skilled job seekers from low socioeconomic backgrounds are not overlooked. 

Measuring socioeconomic background is the critical first step. The following questions have been established by the social mobility commission, underpinned by consultation with academic experts, think tanks, charities, and employers.  

How to apply

This special call will open to applications on Thursday 1 June 2023 and will close on Sunday 16 July. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, as they are received. 

Applications must be submitted through the online form here. 

Visit our inclusion and diversity in the chemical sciences pages

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