Funding for D&T and STEM

FundingforSchools D&T/STEM

A detailed (but not exhaustive!) list of funding opportunities and funding guidance for schools in the UK...

Funding for D&T/ STEM

SourcingfundingforD&TandSTEMproectsandactivitiescanbechallenging andtimeconsuming,sowehavecuratedacomprehensive(butnot exhaustive)listofgrantopportunitiesandinnovativewaystoraisefunds,all aimedatenhancingD&T/STEMinyourschool.

Ourfundingguidealsoprovidesvaluabletipsforpresentingsuccessful applications,alongwithessentialguidancetoconsiderbeforeembarkingon yourapplicationourney.

Guidanceforapplying

Checkthelatestgrantinformationon therelevantwebsite

Checkforfulleligibilityforyour organisationandproposedproect

Readallguidanceandsupplementary documentation

Contactthegrantproviderdirectlyto clarifyanyquestionsorissues

Applyforthegrant,ensuringthatall stepsarefollowed

Fundingcanbeobtainedthroughvariouschannels,includinggovernmentallocations, privatedonations,grants,andpartnershipswithlocalbusinessesandinstitutions.Our non-exhaustivelistincludes:

UKSpaceAgency

TheaimoftheSpaceforAll Programmeistounlockgrowth intheUKspacesectorinclude nurturingtalentandinspiring thenextgenerationintoScience, Technology,Engineeringand Mathematics(STEM)careers.

Applicationopen| Now

Applicationdeadline| 27thOct2023

CREST

DesignedtohelpschoolsrunCREST AwardswithstudentswhoareunderrepresentedinSTEM.

Applicationopen| Now

Applicationdeadline| 30thOct2023

BritishScienceWeek: KickStartGrantsforSchoolsavailableforschoolsinchallenging circumstancestoenablethemto organisetheirowneventsaspartof BritishScienceWeek.Fourgrant optionsavailable.

Applicationopen| Now

Applicationdeadline| 6thNov2023

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WingatesWindFarmCommunity GrantsScheme

Grantswillnormallybeintherangeof £250to£5,000andcanbeusedto supportawiderangeofactivities including,education,culture,arts, science,sport,environmental protection,sustainabletransport, improvementstocommunitybuildings etc.

Onlyapplicableforaselectionof areasinNorthumberland.

Applicationopen| Now

Applicationdeadline| 13thNov2023

InstituteofMathematics&its applications

TheIMAoffersanEducationGrants

Schemetoprovidefinancialsupport towardsthecostsofrunningan educationalactivityrelatingto mathematics.

Applicationopen| Now

Applicationdeadline| 30thNov2023

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TheRoyalSociety

Offersupto£3,000torun investigativeSTEMproectsin partnershipwithSTEMprofessionals fromacademiaorindustry.

Applicationopen| Now

Applicationdeadline| Endof November (DatesalsoavailablefromApril annually)

Ironmonger’sCompany,London

Inlinewiththeorganisations’history andinresponsetotheshortfallof skilledSTEMworkersintheUK,‘The IronmongersFoundation’supports initiativesthatencourageyoung peopletostudysciencesubectsat schoolandgoontopursueSTEMrelatedfurthereducationor vocationaltraining,particularlyin MaterialsScience.

Applicationopen| Now

Applicationdeadline| 1stDec2023

TheWolfsonFoundation

Supportinghigh-achievingstatefundedsecondaryschoolsandsixth formcollegestoimprovetheteaching ofscience,computerscience,design& technology,art,languages,musicand performingartsatGCSEandA-Level. Grantsaregenerallyawardedtowards newbuilds,refurbishment,and technicalequipment.

Applicationopen| Now

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RoyalAcademyofEngineering

TheAcademyrunsaprogrammeof grantsandprizestosupportthe pursuitofengineeringactivitiesand toenableclosercontactbetween academiaandindustry.

Applicationdeadline| Varied website

Applicationopen| Varied

BBCChildreninNeedProectGrants

Tocreatelasting,positivechange acrosstheUKforthechildrenand youngpeoplewhoneeditmost. Availableforspecialschools.

Applicationopen| Now

Applicationdeadline| Ongoing

website

RoboticsEducation&Competition Foundation(RECS)

Forschoolsandorganisationsthatare interestedinadoptingtheworld's largestandfastestgrowingacademic roboticscompetitions.

Applicationopen| ContactRECS

Applicationdeadline| ContactRECS Visit

DigitalXtraFund

Grantsavailableforexciting extracurricularcomputinganddigital technologiesinitiativesacross Scotland.

Applicationopen| Closed

Applicationdeadline| Signup totheirnewsletterfor announcements: digitalxtrafund.scot/newsletter

EdgeFoundation

TheEIFisnowopenandlookingfor proectswhicharedisruptiveand innovativeintheirthinkingand approach,challengingthecurrent educationsystemapproach

Applicationopen| Ongoing

FORDBritainTrust

FordBritainTrustpays particularattentiontoproects focusingoneducation,the environment,children,those withdisabilities,youthactivities

Applicationopen| Closed

Applicationdeadline| 2024date pending

DPDEcoFund

Grantsavailabletosupport sustainableproectswhichpromote greenandecoinitiativesacrossthe UKareconsideredforfunding.

Applicationopen| Applyanytime

VariedOrganisations

TheNationalCo-ordinatingCentre forPublicEngagementhaveput togetherthislistoffunding opportunitiesavailabletosupport publicengagementactivitiesin STEM.

Applicationopen| Varied

Other opportunities...

Get involved…

Enteringyourschoolintonational competitionsisanexcellentwayofnot onlygivingyourschoolextrakudosand enhancestudentengagementintechnical practicalsubects;butcangiveyour departmenttheopportunitytowinprizes and/ormoneytospendonD&Tand Engineeringequipmentandactivities. Herearesomepopularchoices:

F1 In Schools

TaskstudentsusingCAD/CAM softwaretodesign,analyse, manufacture,testandracea miniaturecompressedairpowered F1car.

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TDI Challenge

TheTechnologyDesignand Innovation(TDI)Challenge offersschoolandcollegestudentsa uniqueopportunitytoshowcase theirproectworktoanindustry thatreliesuponthecreativityand innovationofitsdesignersand engineers.

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Deliveringhands-onSTEM experiencesforchildrenaged4-16 yearsthroughourthreeFIRST® LEGO®Leaguedivisionsacrossthe UKandIreland.

AnannualcompetitionofSTEM activitydayswithareal-world challengeforpupilsaged12-13 years.

Greenpower

ThehighlysuccessfulGreenpower challengetodesign,buildandracea singleseatelectriccarprovidesyoung peoplewithauniquehands-on opportunitytoengageinengineering.

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James Dyson Award

TheamesDysonAwardisan internationaldesigncompetition, runbytheamesDysonFoundation, thatinspires,encourages,and celebratesbuddinginventors'new, problem-solvingideas–and providesaplatformtolaunchthem.

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Land Rover 4x4

4x4inschoolsisschools’ competitionbringingteamsfrom acrossthenationUKtodesign, build,test,andmarketaradio controlled4-wheeldrive(4x4) vehicletosetspecificationsto successfullynavigateatesttrack.

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Tried Crowd Funding?

Ifyouarelookingtoraisemoneyforyourschoolcrowdfundingisa provenwaytogeneratefundsforawidevarietyofthings.Anythingfrom newlearningequipment,improvingschoolfacilitiesorprogrammes,to raisingmoneyforfreeschooluniforms.

Setupproectsquicklyandeasilyusingcrowdfundingsoftwareproviders, whohaveaproventrackrecordandexperiencefundraisingineducation.

Whynottrytheir‘findafund’toolcrowdfunder.co.uk/fundstoseeif yourschooliseligibletoaccesssomeofthefundingalreadyout there,bysimplyusingyourlocationandfundingsubect.It’salways worthatry!

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FundEd(FormallyDonateMySchool),likeCrowdFunder,offeragrant searchtoolwhichcanhelpyouonyourmissiontoraisingmoneyfor thethingsyouneedfunded.org.uk/grants

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Oneofthebiggest,triedandtestedplatformsforfundraising.

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Chuffedhavecreatedausefulguidetohelpyou getstartedwithyournextcrowdfunding campaign‘TheUltimateGuidetoCrowdfunding forSchools’

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Applying for Funding | Initial Considerations…

Beforesourcingandapplyingforadditionalfundingforyourschoolor department,hereareafewthingsyoumaywanttoconsider…

Makesureyourproectisinlinewithyourschools’mission, andvisionandvalues.Theremaybesomeproceduresand evenrestrictionsthatyouneedtoaccountfor,soalways worthseekingapprovalforyourproectideabeforeputting theworkintoanapplication.

Strengthenyourbidandmakeitmorecrediblebyaligning yourproectwiththecurriculum.Thiswillgivetheschooland fundingorganisationmorereasontotrustyourproectaims, obectivesandoutcomes.

ConsiderwhatotherSTEMFundingcomesintoschoolasD&T shouldustifiablyhaveitsshare.

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 toyourproect?Canyoushareaproportionofexistingschool budgetsthatyoumaynotevenbeawareof.

Canyouliaise/oinforceswithotherschoolsorbusinessto furtherstudentinterestinSTEMandshareequipmentand resources.

Applying for Funding | Get it right...

Writingacompellingapplicationforfundingiscrucialtosecuringthe financialsupportneededforyourschoolordepartment.Herearesome tipstohelpyoucreateastrongapplication…

UnderstandtheGuidelines

Carefullyreadandunderstandthefundingguidelinesprovided bythefundingorganisation.Ensurethatyourapplication matchestheirrequirements.

HighlighttheNeed

Clearlydemonstratetheproblemorneedyourproectaimsto address.Explainwhythefundingisessentialtofillthisgap andhowitwillleadtopositiveoutcomes.

BudgetWisely

Createadetailedbudgetthatoutlineshowthefundingwillbe allocated.Ensurethateachexpenseisustifiedandaligned withthefundingorganisation’sobectives.

BeRealistic

Presentachievablegoalsandoutcomes.Unrealistic proectionscanunderminethecredibilityofyourapplication.

DemonstrateImpact

Describetheexpectedoutcomesandimpactofyourproect. Usedataandevidencetoshowhowtheproectwillbenefit thecommunity,students,ortargetaudience.

TailorYourApplication:

DON’TCOPYANDPASTE!Customiseyourapplicationforeach fundingopportunity.Addressthespecificprioritiesandvalues ofthefundingorganisation,showinghowyourproectaligns 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: