Where to find money
There are many sources of funding for STEM Clubs, it's just a case of knowing where to look.
Selected funders and their grants
As well large national supporters, it is important to consider seeking financial support from local businesses and local charities. Both of whom might look to support education in your area.
Finding funding bodies
If you think that you'd like to approach a funding body, the first thing to do is to find a funder whose mission aligns to your STEM Club project. For example, if your project was in chemistry the Royal Society of Chemistry might be a good place to start. If there are no obvious organisations, then head to your favourite search engine! Try phrases such as:
- Education grants in [your town/ area]
- Grants to support physics/ chemistry/ biology (and so on) ['in [your town/ area]']
- Grants for science teaching
If you use Google, don't forget:
- select the 'pages from the UK' option
- look at the 'Sponsored Links' which are highlighted in yellow at the top of the first page of search results
Alternatively, Wikipedia has a list of Learned Societies in the UK. It's also worth searching for other 'funding databases' that might be online.
Finding suitable businesses
Similarly to funding bodies, your first consideration should be finding a business that do something related to your project. Even large national businesses have a local presence somewhere. For example, Rolls Royce has a branch in Bristol and would therefore be worth considering for schools in that area doing an engineering project.
You can be creative when thinking about links between your project and businesses. A project on forces might involve looking at a cricket ball striking a bat, and you could therefore approach a sports goods manufacturer.
With all these things, it is a good idea to talk to lots of people and find out their suggestions. You might even find someone whose partner or friend works in a business that might be worth approaching.
There's no bullet-proof of finding a business that will support you. But don't forget that businesses are everywhere, so whether it's through Google or discussions with friends, you can find businesses worth approaching.
What will people support?
Broadly, both funding bodies and businesses will support similar things: innovative projects and activities that help enhance pupils’ science education. For example:
- A new or different way of exploring an area of science which could not be provided as part of the school's normal teaching.
- A trip to a science and discovery centre to find out about exciting areas of science beyond the scope of the school's normal teaching.
- A trip to industry to discover how science is applied practically, giving an inspiring insight for young people to aspire to.