Outreach Fund

Eligibility

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 volnteers 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
• 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

Criteria

All applications will be judged on the following criteria and should clearly demonstrate the following:

Content

• Projects must have clearly defined, and measurable aims, objectives and outcomes that are relevant and appropriate for the target audience
• Where possible, 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). The lead applicant, however, is not required to be an RSC member
• Applicants should evidence how and why the delivery method(s) chosen is effective and relevant for the target audience and demonstrate best practice for engaging with schools or the public (using evidence from literature or previous experience)
• Applicants should detail how clear, accurate and relevant chemistry content will be curated for the target audience. Full details of content are not required (but may be added to the Supplementary Document section of the application form), a summary overview will suffice
• Activities should increase chemists’ visibility as diverse approachable people, increase the audiences’ confidence in discussing chemistry and demonstrate the relevance of chemistry to everyday interests and concerns
• Projects should provide opportunities and activity which would not normally be accessible to the audience
• Projects which target school aged individuals/groups (including those in further education) should demonstrate career opportunities, develop employability skills and enrich chemistry education
• Projects should provide the audience with the opportunity to explore chemistry through local contexts
• CPD for teachers may be included in a schools engagement application where the CPD activity can be demonstrated to support curriculum enriching activity and be of ultimate benefit to students
• Salary and/or consultancy fees (including teacher cover costs in schools engagement applications) may be included in an application where they can be clearly shown to be essential for activity to take place

Audience

• Projects must have a clearly identified audience. Applicants should demonstrate an understanding of their target audience demographic
• Applications should state the projected reach of the project (audience numbers and geographical area)
• Applications should clearly evidence audience demand, need and suitability of their project and the intended learning outcomes and benefit of activity for the specific audience
• Applications should show an understanding of how activity will be communicated to the target audience

Budget

• Applications should clearly show how money will be spent and justification for spending. 
• Budgets must be considered with respect to projected project reach (geographical and audience numbers) and impact. High costs must be justified in terms of audience reach, audience needs and/or impact. Activities that have a high cost for a comparatively low reach and/or impact will not be awarded a grant. Activity that has a high cost (regardless of reach) will be considered if the impact is demonstrably high and costs justified in terms of the needs of the specific audience.

Other considerations

We have additional funding available to support projects that support under-represented audiences, communities and places within the chemical sciences.

In addition, all projects involving member and volunteer engagement activities, in order to deliver the activities within a project should also look to:

• provide members with new opportunties to directly interact with the public
• allow members to communicate chemistry, and their roles within chemistry, with passion.

Restrictions on funding

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
• 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 an area in your project that may require additional support from the RSC, you should get in touch with the RSC prior to submitting your application to discuss
• To fund the delivery of a commercial science show or activity. An application to fund a commercial science show, however, will be considered if the applicant can explicitly justify how and why the show is relevant and the best method of delivery for the specific audience, in addition to measurable learning outcomes and long term impact of the show for the audience
• Cover the cost of resources (including textbooks, staff costs or equipment) to deliver the core curriculum or for normal curriculum delivery in schools. Applications to support activity that enhances normal teaching, notably extracurricular activity (including before/after school or lunchtime clubs) will be considered

For any queries or to discuss a project please do get in touch with us using the contact details in the side bar.