A range of external sources of funding is available to support researchers with public engagement activities. UK Research Councils, charities, professional bodies and other organisations offer regular grants to deliver public engagement on certain topics and for different audiences. This page outlines any live opportunities for funding.
PERU can offer support and advice in developing your grant application, identifying potential partners and creating a budget. If you wish to discuss applying for a grant to do public engagement please contact the team.
- Being Human Festival
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Please note - the 2025 call is now closed.
The UK's national festival of the humanities returns 6-15 November 2025, to celebrate and champion the importance of the humanities! Help demonstrate why humanities research is vital to society and why it is directly relevant to everyday lives and communities. Each year, researchers at universities and other research organisations to collaborate with local community and cultural partners to create exciting and engaging events and projects for all to enjoy.
The 2025 theme is Between the Lines, with researchers are being invited to explore boundaries, crossings and intersections - and the spaces in between, where meaning is made and remade.
If you wish to apply for funding in 2026, please let the Public Engagement with Research Unit know, so we can assist with you application or visit the Being Human website to find out more.
- Royal Society of Chemistry Outreach Funding
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Deadlines for 2025: Friday 6 June & Friday 3 October
The Royal Society of Chemistry run a regular call for its Outreach Fund to support members, individuals and organisations to run chemistry-based engagement activities.
The following engagements can be supported:
- Develop chemists’ public engagement and science communication skills - building capacity and opportunities for chemists and chemical scientists to engage with schools and public audiences
- Engage with school students - inspiring and raising aspirations of student audiences to nurture a future generation passionate about the chemical sciences
- Engage with public audiences - involving a wide range of people in relevant contemporary issues in the chemical sciences
- Provide under-represented audiences, communities and places with inspiring chemistry engagement opportunities, delivered or coordinated by skilled people
If you wish to apply for this fund, please contact peru@abdn.ac.uk so we can assist with your application.
- Royal Society Partnership Grants
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Please note: the 2025 call is now closed. If you wish to apply in 2026, please let the PERU team know.
The annual Partnership Grants scheme from the Royal Society funds UK schools and colleges up to £3,000 to work in partnership with STEM professionals from academia or industry to run an investigative STEM project. The scheme is open to all levels of education supporting students aged between 5 - 18. Schools and colleges that are outside of the UK (except the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) are not eligible to apply.
- Institute of Physics - Public Engagement Grant Scheme
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The Institute of Physics Public Engagement Grant Scheme (PEGS) aims to support the IOP Limit Less initiative by funding projects that engage whole family groups (including parents/carers) to improve their relationship with physics.
The minimum grant award is £500. You can apply for up to £4,000 to run physics-based activities in the UK and Ireland.
Applications to the fund during 2025 are being accepted on a rolling basis from Monday 3 February to Monday 1 September 2025 and have two decision-making points during the year.