Reach for the stars
S
o, you have a brilliant idea for an activity to encourage interest in STEM subjects. Maybe it’s a piece of
equipment or an external activity provider, a school trip or a club. The only question is how to pay for it.
Look around you Start making connections. There is a vast array of people out there who can help you, from independent STEM educators (like me), to charities and universities with programmes to widen participation. There are also plenty of excellent support groups on social media. Local STEM employers may be
able to supply surplus lab or engineering equipment to your school, or they might allow staff to help with school activities or give career talks. Such activities are a way for businesses to improve staff communication skills and morale, as well as increasing a company’s engagement with the community. Make sure that what you are asking aligns with a company’s Corporate Social Responsibility goals – and tell them how! STEM recruitment is a major problem in the UK and school activities help improve the pool of potential staff. Local government departments, as well as organisations such as the
26 SUMMER 2023 FundEd
Astrophysicist and broadcaster Dr Mark Gallaway has secured more than £500,000 in STEM funding for education. Here are his tips on how to fund your science project
Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP), may be open to applications for funding. Most LEPs have some kind of educational programme and will be looking at how to build and promote the key skills needed in your region.
Launching your bid As well as helping schools to access funding, I have also evaluated funding bids on behalf of funding bodies. Here is my step-by-step approach to boosting your chances of grant success. As with any science project, it’s all about preparation and pressing the right buttons.
Allow plenty of time Everything takes longer than you think. No matter how simple it may seem to pull together a project, there are often a lot of steps involved in submitting a proposal. Plan your application and make sure you’ve got all the paperwork required. Go through the funding requirements and make a list of what you need to gather and do.
Choose your funder and scheme carefully Speak to the funders. Ask questions to get an insight into which schemes might suit your idea. Funders sometimes run workshops or
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