FundingforScience 2025
A brief (but not exhaustive!) list of funding opportunities available to the Science department in the UK, as well as tips and tricks for application!
Funding for Science/STEM
SourcingfundingforSciencepro ectsandactivitiescanbechallengingand timeconsuming,sowehavecuratedacomprehensive(butnotexhaustive) listofgrantopportunitiesandinnovativewaystoraisefunds,allaimedat enhancingScience/STEMinyourschool.
Ourfundingguidealsoprovidesvaluabletipsforpresentingsuccessful applications,alongwithessentialguidancetoconsiderbeforeembarkingon yourapplication ourney.
Guidanceforapplying
Checkthelatestgrantinformationon therelevantwebsite
Checkforfulleligibilityforyour organisationandproposedpro ect
Readallguidanceandsupplementary documentation
Contactthegrantproviderdirectlyto clarifyanyquestionsorissues
Applyforthegrant,ensuringthatall stepsarefollowed
Fundingcanbeobtainedthroughvariouschannels,includinggovernmentallocations, privatedonations,grants,andpartnershipswithlocalbusinessesandinstitutions.Our non-exhaustivelistincludes:
UKSpaceAgencyforNavISP
Since2017,theUKhasinvested€50million inNavISPtodriveinnovationinspace-based navigation.ThisfundingsupportsUK organisationsindevelopingnext-generation PNTtechnologies.
UKSpaceAgency-ESAExploration Programme
TheUKplaysakeyroleinESA’sExploration Programme.TheUKSpaceAgencysupports participationinESAmissionsandfuture explorationbeyond.Small-scalefundingis availableforpro ectsthatadvanceUKspace exploration
GeneralSupportTechnology Programme
Foreducation-focusedpro ects,NonCompendiaFundingundertheGeneral SupportTechnologyProgramme(GSTP) ismoresuitable.ThisrouteallowsUK companiesandresearchinstitutionsto proposetechnologydevelopment pro ectswithUKSpaceAgencysupport.
WingatesWindFarmCommunity GrantsScheme
Grantswillnormallybeintherangeof £250to£5,000andcanbeusedto supportawiderangeofactivities including,education,culture,arts, science,sport,environmentalprotection, sustainabletransport,improvementsto communitybuildingsetc.
Onlyapplicableforaselectionofareasin Northumberland.
Applicationopen| Now
TheRoyalSociety
Offersupto£3,000torun investigativeSTEMpro ectsin partnershipwithSTEMprofessionals fromacademiaorindustry.
Applicationopen| Deadline1stofDecember (DatesavailablefromAprilannually)
EdgeFoundation
TheEIFisnowopenandlookingfor pro ectswhicharedisruptiveand innovativeintheirthinkingand approach,challengingthecurrent educationsystemapproach.
Applicationopen| Ongoing
TheWolfsonFoundation
Supportinghigh-achievingstatefundedsecondaryschoolsandsixth formcollegestoimprovetheteaching ofscience,computerscience,design &technology,art,languages,music andperformingartsatGCSEandALevel.Grantsaregenerallyawarded towardsnewbuilds,refurbishment, andtechnicalequipment.
Applicationopen 20thofMarch
BBCChildreninNeedPro ectGrants Tocreatelasting,positivechange acrosstheUKforthechildrenand youngpeoplewhoneeditmost. Availableforspecialschools.
Applicationopen| Deadline15thof April
DigitalXtraFund
Grantsavailableforexciting extracurricularcomputinganddigital technologiesinitiativesacross Scotland.
Applicationopen|Deadline27thof March
FORDBritainTrust
TheFordBritainTrustofferssmall grants(upto£250)andlargegrants (upto£3,000)forlocalcommunity andeducationalpro ectsnearFordUK locations.Smallgrantsareavailable threetimesayear,whilelargegrants areavailabletwiceayear Applicationopen| Now (Acceptssmallgrantapplications threetimesayearandlargegrant applicationstwiceayear,eachwith specificreviewperiods.Deadlinesvary bygranttype—checkthewebsitefor fulldetails.
BritishEcologicalSocietyFunds
TheBritishEcologicalSocietyoffers severalgrants,includingPedagogical ResearchandDevelopmentGrants andOutreachandEngagement Grants,whichmayberelevantfor schools.Thesegrantssupport ecologicaleducation,public engagement,andinnovativelearning methods.Forspecificeligibility detailsanddeadlines,visittheBES grantspage. Applicationopen| Varied (Round1oftheOutreachand EngagementGrantsdeadline10thof March)
Funded
Schoolscanaccessvariousfunding opportunitiesforscience departments,includinggrantsfor STEMeducation,outreach,and engagementpro ects.
Somegrantsareaimedat underrepresentedgroups, encouraginginterestinscienceand technology.Membershipmaybe requiredforcertainorganisations,but manygrantsareopentoschools regardless.
Applicationvary
UKResearchandInnovation
TheEngineeringandPhysical SciencesResearchCouncil(EPSRC) offersvariousfundingopportunities tosupportresearchandinnovationin engineeringandphysicalsciences. Fundingisavailableforuniversity pro ects.Eligibilityvariesbygrant, withsomerequiringpartnerships betweenacademiaandindustry.
Applicationopen|Now
EngageFunding
TheCRESTAwardsofferEngage FundingforUKschoolstorun pro ectsthatinvolve underrepresentedstudentsinSTEM.
ApplicationopeninSeptember2025
website
VariedOrganisations
TheNationalCo-ordinatingCentre forPublicEngagementhaveput togetherthislistoffunding opportunitiesavailabletosupport publicengagementactivitiesin STEM.
Applicationopen| Varied
RSCOutreachFund
TheRSCOutreachFundsupports pro ectsthatengagethepublicwith chemistry,particularlyinunderserved orruralareas.Grantsareawardedfor pro ectspromotingchemistryandits impactonsociety.
Applicationopen|Now (Deadlinesfor2025areMarch14, une 6andOctober3.Decisionsaremade withinsixweeks,andpro ectsmust finishbyNovember30,2026)
InstituteofPhysics
TheInstituteofPhysics(IOP)offers variousfundingopportunities includingthePublicEngagement GrantScheme,whichprovidesupto £4,000forphysics-basedoutreach pro ects.Othergrantsincludesupport forearly-careerresearchers,teacher training,andinternational collaborations.Theyalsooffer financialassistanceforattending eventsandconferences.
Applicationsvary
TheRoyalSocietyofBiology
TheRoyalSocietyofBiology(RSB) offersseveralgrantopportunitiesfor publicengagementandoutreach activitiesinbiosciences.Thesegrants areaimedatsupportingpro ectsthat communicatebiologytononacademicaudiences,particularly throughinnovative,educational events.
Applicationsvary
Other opportunities...
Get involved…
Enteringyourschoolintonational competitionsisanexcellentwayofnot onlygivingyourschoolextrakudosand enhancestudentengagementintechnical practicalsub ects;butcangiveyour departmenttheopportunitytowinprizes and/ormoneytospendonScience equipmentandpro ects.
Herearesomepopularchoices:
FIRST® LEGO® League
Deliveringhands-onSTEM experiencesforchildrenaged4-16 yearsthroughourthreeFIRST® LEGO®Leaguedivisionsacrossthe UKandIreland.
AnannualcompetitionofSTEM activitydayswithareal-world challengeforpupilsaged12-13 years. Visit website Visit website
IET Faraday® Challenge Days
Tried Crowd Funding?
Ifyouarelookingtoraisemoneyforyourschoolcrowdfundingisa provenwaytogeneratefundsforawidevarietyofthings.Anythingfrom newlearningequipment,improvingschoolfacilitiesorprogrammes,to raisingmoneyforfreeschooluniforms.
Setuppro ectsquicklyandeasilyusingcrowdfundingsoftwareproviders, whohaveaproventrackrecordandexperiencefundraisingineducation.
Whynottrytheir‘findafund’toolcrowdfunder.co.uk/fundstoseeif yourschooliseligibletoaccesssomeofthefundingalreadyout there,bysimplyusingyourlocationandfundingsub ect.It’salways worthatry!
Visit
Oneofthebiggest,triedandtestedplatformsforfundraising. Visit
Chuffedhavecreatedausefulguidetohelp yougetstartedwithyournextcrowdfunding campaign‘TheUltimateGuideto CrowdfundingforSchools’ Visit
Applying for Funding | Initial Considerations
Beforesourcingandapplyingforadditionalfundingforyourschoolor department,hereareafewthingsyoumaywanttoconsider…
Makesureyourpro ectisinlinewithyourschools’mission, andvisionandvalues Theremaybesomeproceduresand evenrestrictionsthatyouneedtoaccountfor,soalways worthseekingapprovalforyourpro ectideabeforeputting theworkintoanapplication.
Strengthenyourbidandmakeitmorecrediblebyaligning yourpro ectwiththecurriculum.Thiswillgivetheschooland fundingorganisationmorereasontotrustyourpro ectaims, ob ectivesandoutcomes.
ConsiderwhatotherSTEMFundingcomesintoschoolas Scienceshould ustifiablyhaveitsshare.
Considerrunningextra-curricularSTEMclubsinschooland/or oiningyourSTEMAmbassadorprogrammeandreceiveregular visitsfromthem.ShowinvestorsyouareembracingSTEMand thebenefitsofteachingit. stem.org.uk/secondary/ambassadors
Enrichmentevents–haveyouconsideredyourdepartment runningenrichment,enterprisedays,lunchclubs,afterschool clubsorevensummerclubs.Allwaystogiveyourdepartment credibilityandcanalsoraisefundsforadditionalresources and/orequipment.
Considerawholeschoolapproach–aretherewiderbenefits toyourpro ect?Canyoushareaproportionofexistingschool budgetsthatyoumaynotevenbeawareof.
Canyouliaise/ oinforceswithotherschoolsorbusinessto furtherstudentinterestinSTEMandshareequipmentand resources.
Applying for Funding | Get it right...
Writingacompellingapplicationforfundingiscrucialtosecuringthe financialsupportneededforyourschoolordepartment.Herearesome tipstohelpyoucreateastrongapplication…
UnderstandtheGuidelines
Carefullyreadandunderstandthefundingguidelinesprovided bythefundingorganisation.Ensurethatyourapplication matchestheirrequirements.
HighlighttheNeed
Clearlydemonstratetheproblemorneedyourpro ectaimsto address.Explainwhythefundingisessentialtofillthisgap andhowitwillleadtopositiveoutcomes.
BudgetWisely
Createadetailedbudgetthatoutlineshowthefundingwillbe allocated.Ensurethateachexpenseis ustifiedandaligned withthefundingorganisation’sob ectives.
BeRealistic
Presentachievablegoalsandoutcomes.Unrealistic pro ectionscanunderminethecredibilityofyourapplication.
DemonstrateImpact
Describetheexpectedoutcomesandimpactofyourpro ect. Usedataandevidencetoshowhowthepro ectwillbenefit thecommunity,students,ortargetaudience.
TailorYourApplication:
DON’TCOPYANDPASTE!Customiseyourapplicationforeach fundingopportunity.Addressthespecificprioritiesandvalues ofthefundingorganisation,showinghowyourpro ectaligns withthem.
Proofread
Carefullyproofreadyourapplicationforgrammar,spelling, andformattingerrors.Awell-polishedapplicationreflects yourattentiontodetailandprofessionalism.
ProvideContactInformation
Maybesoundobvious,butincludeyourdirectcontact informationincasethefunderhasanyquestionsorneeds furtherclarification.
Remember that the goal of your application is to make a strong case for why your project deserves funding. By following these tips and tailoring your application to the specific funding opportunity, you can increase your chances of securing the financial support needed to bring your project to life!
Good luck!
If you have any success stories or read additional advice, please contact our team, so we can share your insights and ideas with other schools.
If you have an existing project and would like support from design to installation, talk to our friendly team today:
