The autumn round of Engage Grants will open on 10 September, 2024.

Please return here in early September 2024 to see guidance on how to apply and access the online application form.

In the meantime you can see more information below or contact us at crest@britishscienceassociation.org.

The Engage Grant is £350 of grant money for your school to run CREST Awards, which you can spend on materials, equipment, field trip, teacher CPD and more! Plus, awardees will also receive up to £350 CREST Awards for free. Schools that have high numbers of pupils and students who are often underrepresented in STEM are encouraged to apply. There are opportunities to apply for an Engage Grant in the autumn and spring terms.

The CREST Awards scheme aims to inspire young people to think and behave like scientists and engineers. It is the British Science Association’s (BSA) flagship education programme for student-led project work in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Once students complete CREST projects, they are recognised with a CREST Award certificate from the BSA.

 
Engage Grant = £350 grant money + £350 CREST Awards
 


Eligibility criteria

Engage funding is only available for ‘school’ settings. This includes schools; colleges; Ofsted-registered Early Years settings; nurseries; and preschools.  

In addition, your school must meet all the following criteria to be eligible:  

  1. The school is in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. 

  2. The school is a state-funded school. Independent Special Schools that receive local authority funding for pupil places are also eligible. 

  3. The school is not academically selective. 

  4. The young people taking part in the activity/event are aged between 3 and 19. 

  5. The school meets at least one of the following additional eligibility criteria: 

    • A minimum of 30% of pupils are eligible for Pupil Premium, Free School Meals, or equivalent 

    • A minimum of 30% of pupils are from ethnic minority backgrounds* 

    • The school is based in a remote and rural location** 

* Ethnic minority backgrounds include all pupils who don’t self-describe as White British. It includes Irish, except in Northern Ireland.  

** Remote and rural schools are in postcodes listed as ‘rural’ under the Government’s Rural Urban classification system. You can look up your school’s classification at https://www.ukpostcodecheck.com/ 

If you are supporting young people who are underrepresented in STEM to do CREST Awards in a non-school context, we might still be able to help with the costs associated with CREST Awards fees. Get in touch at crest@britishscienceassociation.org for assistance.