Request for Applications: Outreach Fund Program (United Kingdom and Ireland)

Deadline: 02-Oct-2026

The Outreach Fund supports individuals and organisations delivering chemistry-based engagement activities that connect communities with the chemical sciences. The fund promotes meaningful learning, interaction, collaboration, and public understanding of chemistry across diverse community settings.

Small grants of up to £5,000 and Large grants between £5,001 and £10,000 are available. Eligible applicants include individuals and organisations based in the UK or Republic of Ireland with a significant connection to the chemical sciences.

What is the Outreach Fund?

The Outreach Fund is a funding opportunity that supports chemistry-based public engagement activities.

The fund helps individuals and organisations bring the chemical sciences closer to people’s everyday lives through learning, dialogue, creativity, collaboration, and community participation.

Supported projects may take place in schools, laboratories, museums, gardens, community spaces, libraries, and other public settings.

Main Purpose of the Fund

The main purpose of the Outreach Fund is to support activities that connect communities with chemistry and promote public engagement with the chemical sciences.

The fund aims to:

• Develop public engagement skills among chemists
• Strengthen science communication skills
• Inspire school students to explore chemistry
• Engage public audiences in chemistry-related issues
• Support under-represented communities
• Improve access to chemistry engagement opportunities
• Build partnerships between chemists and communities
• Encourage dialogue about chemistry and society

Funding Amount

The Outreach Fund provides two levels of funding.

Small Grants

Small grants provide funding of up to £5,000.

These grants may support standalone projects or pilot activities that can later be developed into larger initiatives.

Large Grants

Large grants provide funding between £5,001 and £10,000.

These grants may support larger or more developed engagement projects with wider reach, stronger partnerships, or expanded community impact.

Who is Eligible?

The fund is open to individuals and organisations.

Applicants must be aged 18 or over.

Individual applicants must be residents of the UK or Republic of Ireland and must have a relevant address and bank account.

Organisations must be registered in the UK or Republic of Ireland.

All applications must show a significant connection to the chemical sciences.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants may include:

• Individuals
• Royal Society of Chemistry members
• RSC member-led groups
• Academic researchers
• Industry researchers
• Museums
• Community groups
• Not-for-profit organisations
• Arts groups
• Libraries
• Organisations working in public engagement
• Groups delivering chemistry-related learning activities

What Types of Projects Are Supported?

The fund supports projects that engage people with chemistry in meaningful and accessible ways.

Supported activities may include:

• Chemistry workshops
• School engagement activities
• Public science events
• Community learning projects
• Family and intergenerational activities
• Museum-based chemistry engagement
• Laboratory-based outreach
• Chemistry activities in gardens or community spaces
• Creative arts and chemistry collaborations
• Projects exploring chemistry and society
• Activities for under-represented audiences

Key Focus Areas

The Outreach Fund supports projects that promote chemistry engagement, inclusion, and community participation.

Key focus areas include:

• Chemical sciences engagement
• Public engagement
• Science communication
• Chemistry education
• School student engagement
• Contemporary chemistry issues
• Under-represented communities
• Community learning
• Family engagement
• Intergenerational engagement
• Wellbeing and confidence
• Skills development
• Community connection

Expected Outcomes

Supported projects should create positive outcomes for participants, communities, and the chemical sciences sector.

Expected outcomes may include:

• Better representation in chemical sciences
• Improved science communication skills
• More confidence among participants
• Stronger community connections
• Increased interest in chemistry
• Greater understanding of chemistry-related issues
• Creative learning opportunities
• Improved wellbeing through participation
• More adults engaging with chemistry and societal challenges
• Skill development opportunities for RSC members

Key Concepts Explained

Chemical Sciences

Chemical sciences involve the study and application of chemistry, including matter, materials, reactions, molecules, processes, and the role of chemistry in society.

Public Engagement

Public engagement means creating meaningful opportunities for people to interact with science, ask questions, share ideas, and take part in learning or dialogue.

Science Communication

Science communication is the practice of explaining scientific ideas in clear, accessible, and engaging ways for different audiences.

Under-Represented Audiences

Under-represented audiences are groups that may face barriers to accessing science education, engagement opportunities, or careers in chemistry.

Intergenerational Engagement

Intergenerational engagement brings people of different age groups together to learn, create, and participate in shared activities.

Project Settings

Projects may take place in a wide range of spaces.

Possible settings include:

• Schools
• Laboratories
• Museums
• Gardens
• Community centres
• Libraries
• Arts venues
• Public spaces
• Local group settings
• Informal learning environments

Applicants should choose settings that are accessible and appropriate for the intended audience.

Project Approach

The fund encourages projects that are interactive, inclusive, and relevant to people’s lives.

Strong projects may:

• Share ideas between scientists and communities
• Build partnerships across sectors
• Encourage public dialogue
• Use creative engagement methods
• Connect chemistry with everyday issues
• Support learning through hands-on participation
• Help audiences understand the role of chemistry in society

Previous Grant Recipients

Previous recipients of Royal Society of Chemistry grants may apply again.

They may apply for:

• New projects
• Expansion of existing work
• Development of new areas within previous projects

However, the fund is competitive, and continued support for the same project beyond initial development is limited.

How the Fund Works

Applicants may apply for Small or Large grants depending on the scale of their project.

Smaller grants can be used to test or pilot ideas.

Larger grants can support more developed projects with stronger reach, partnerships, and impact.

Applications should clearly explain the chemistry connection, target audience, project plan, expected outcomes, and community benefit.

How to Apply

Applicants should prepare a clear proposal that demonstrates the project’s chemistry focus, engagement approach, audience, and expected impact.

Suggested Application Steps

1. Confirm that the applicant is aged 18 or over.
2. Confirm UK or Republic of Ireland residency or organisational registration.
3. Identify the chemistry-based engagement activity.
4. Choose the appropriate grant size.
5. Define the target audience and engagement setting.
6. Explain the project’s connection to the chemical sciences.
7. Show how the project supports public engagement or science communication.
8. Describe how the project will reach under-represented or priority audiences where relevant.
9. Prepare a realistic budget.
10. Explain the expected outcomes and community benefit.
11. Submit the application according to the official fund requirements.

Assessment Considerations

Applications should clearly show the value of the project for chemistry engagement and community participation.

Reviewers may consider:

• Strength of connection to chemical sciences
• Quality of public engagement approach
• Relevance to target audiences
• Potential community benefit
• Inclusion of under-represented groups
• Skill development for chemists or RSC members
• Creativity and accessibility
• Feasibility of the project plan
• Strength of partnerships
• Value for money
• Potential for learning, dialogue, and impact

Why It Matters

Chemistry plays an important role in health, climate, materials, food, energy, environment, and everyday life.

Public engagement helps communities understand how chemistry affects society and gives people opportunities to ask questions, share perspectives, and take part in science-related learning.

The Outreach Fund helps make chemistry more accessible, inclusive, and relevant by supporting projects that connect scientists, educators, artists, community groups, and public audiences.

Tips for Strong Applications

A strong application should clearly explain how the project will engage people with chemistry in an accessible and meaningful way.

Applicants should focus on:

• Clear chemical sciences connection
• Strong public engagement approach
• Specific audience needs
• Inclusive and accessible activities
• Practical project design
• Realistic budget
• Strong partnerships
• Clear expected outcomes
• Opportunities for dialogue and learning
• Benefits for under-represented audiences where relevant

Applicants should avoid overly technical proposals and explain how the project will create meaningful interaction with participants.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should carefully check eligibility and project requirements before applying.

Common mistakes include:

• Not showing a clear connection to chemistry
• Submitting a project with limited public engagement
• Failing to define the target audience
• Providing a weak or unclear project plan
• Requesting the wrong grant level
• Not explaining expected outcomes
• Overlooking inclusion and accessibility
• Providing an unrealistic budget
• Applying for continued support without showing new development
• Treating engagement as one-way information delivery only

FAQ

What is the Outreach Fund?

The Outreach Fund supports chemistry-based public engagement activities that connect communities with the chemical sciences.

Who can apply?

Individuals aged 18 or over and organisations based or registered in the UK or Republic of Ireland may apply.

How much funding is available?

Small grants of up to £5,000 and Large grants between £5,001 and £10,000 are available.

What types of organisations can apply?

Eligible organisations may include RSC member-led groups, academic and industry researchers, museums, community groups, not-for-profits, arts groups, and libraries.

What activities can be supported?

Supported activities may include chemistry workshops, school engagement, public events, community learning, family activities, arts-science projects, and engagement with contemporary chemistry-related issues.

Can previous RSC grant recipients apply?

Yes. Previous recipients may apply for new projects or to expand and develop new areas of existing work.

What should projects demonstrate?

Projects should demonstrate a significant connection to chemical sciences, meaningful public engagement, clear audience benefit, and realistic delivery plans.

Conclusion

The Outreach Fund supports individuals and organisations in delivering chemistry-based engagement projects that connect people with the chemical sciences. Through Small grants of up to £5,000 and Large grants between £5,001 and £10,000, the fund helps create opportunities for learning, dialogue, creativity, inclusion, and community participation.

Strong applications will demonstrate a clear chemistry connection, meaningful engagement methods, strong audience focus, realistic planning, and outcomes that support public understanding, confidence, representation, and community connection.

For more information, visit Royal Society of Chemistry.