British Science Association
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your group works directly with people who are under-represented in science, such as those facing deprivation, people in remote and rural communities, or girls and women, the funder's science engagement, mental wellbeing and climate change themes may fit your work.
- The amounts it states for individual programmes are £500 and up to £4,500, so a modest request for a community science activity is the most likely fit.
- The charity says it funded 40.1% of requests (77 of 192), which is a share of requests rather than of grant money.
- There is no publicly published application process, but for the British Science Week Community Grants the BSA directs applicants to the British Science Week website.
- Groups working with girls and women should also show that they work with at least one other under-represented group, as the BSA prioritises those.
Overview
British Science Association is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 212479).
The British Science Association is a charity registered in England and Wales that brings people and science together in ways intended to have a lasting, positive impact on communities, research and society. It provides micro grants to schools and community groups so they can take part in science activity. Its programmes include the British Science Week Community Grant scheme (£500), the Ideas Fund on mental wellbeing, the Highlands and Islands Climate Change Community Grant (up to £4,500) and the Community Buddy programme (up to £4,000). Its annual giving was £2,984,319 according to the annual report.
What they fund
Priority Areas
The British Science Association makes programme-based grants that help schools and community groups bring science to people who are underrepresented or not engaged in science. Its community schemes support groups to run their own science activities, while the organisation also backs school participation in CREST Awards and collaborative projects between community groups and researchers. Other named programmes support community-research partnerships on mental wellbeing and community groups working with researchers on local climate-change issues. The intended audiences include people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people facing deprivation, people with disabilities or long-term health conditions, people in remote and rural communities, and girls and women; for the latter, it prioritises groups also working with another underrepresented group. This reflects its stated emphasis on inclusion and community involvement in science.
Themes
- Science engagement
- Mental wellbeing
- Climate change
Geographic Focus
UK; Highlands and Islands of Scotland; Worldwide.
How to apply
For the British Science Week Community Grants, the BSA directs applicants to the British Science Week website for application information; the steps themselves are not specified on the BSA page.
Who can apply:
- British Science Week Community Grants: Community groups that work directly with audiences who are traditionally under-represented and currently not engaged in science activity
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- For community groups working with girls and women, the BSA prioritises those that also work with at least one other underrepresented group.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
- United Kingdom
- International
- Scotland
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to British Science Association.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 March 2021 | £3,124,541 | £2,966,259 | £381,764 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2021 |
| year to 31 March 2022 | £5,278,579 | £5,128,660 | £2,075,182 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2022 |
| year to 31 March 2023 | £6,839,054 | £6,899,255 | £2,770,952 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2023 |
| year to 31 March 2024 | £4,773,253 | £4,797,612 | £1,225,842 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2024 |
| year to 31 March 2025 | £6,447,074 | £6,447,396 | £2,984,319 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 March 2021; year to 31 March 2022; year to 31 March 2023; year to 31 March 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 March 2025: the accounts do not say whether this is grants awarded or paid.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- britishscienceassociation.org
- britishscienceassociation.org/british-science-week-community-grants · read on 23 October 2026
- britishscienceassociation.org/community-engagement · read on 23 October 2026
- britishscienceassociation.org/vision · read on 23 October 2026
- britishscienceassociation.org/contact · read on 23 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 March 2025)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 23 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to British Science Association?
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Applying to British Science Association?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required