Dudgeon Community STEM in Schools Fund
Grants of up to £10,000 are available to schools and other eligible organisations to deliver projects designed to engage students in STEM subjects.
The Dudgeon STEM in Schools Fund aims to inspire pupils and students in primary/secondary schools and colleges (up to and including year 13) to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, so that those pupils are more likely to continue education or employment within the STEM areas.
The Fund supports creative projects which can demonstrate that they will make a sustained difference to pupils and students. We would like to see a range of projects which seek to engage underrepresented groups in STEM and the continued support of student’s activities which have proven successful.
All applications must be for a STEM initiative which will be delivered to pupils in primary schools, secondary schools, or colleges in the Great Yarmouth, Breckland or North Norfolk districts. Collaboration on projects with other schools and colleges is strongly encouraged.
Who can apply?
Applications can be made by:
- non-fee paying colleges and schools (up to and including year 13)
- charities and other not-for-profit organisations that are experienced in working with students, delivering activity in schools, and which meet NCF’s general eligibility criteria: Is my group eligible to apply?
Applicants who have previously received a grant from this Fund may apply again, provided their existing grant has been fully spent and all reporting requirements are complete, or will be completed before final funding decisions are made.
Exclusions
The Fund will not cover costs associated with normal delivery of the curriculum. For example, funding could not support the purchasing of equipment to use in lessons. It can also not support the costs associated with a school’s core funding, such as teacher salaries.
If you are seeking funding to deliver activities in a school and would like more information on what is currently taught in the national curriculum, please consult the school you are wishing to work with.
How to apply
The Fund has a two-stage application process:
- Stage 1 – Complete an “Expression of Interest” (EOI) to tell us about your idea and how it fits with the Fund objectives. You can find a link for this form below.
- Stage 2 – Your EOI will be reviewed by the panel, and invited applicants will be sent a full application form to be completed.
When to apply
Applications are considered twice a year, in May and December. The May funding round is intended for projects taking place during the summer holidays or at the start of the next academic year in September. The December funding round supports activities scheduled for the spring or summer term of the following year.
The deadline to submit an EOI for the May 2026 round is 12 noon on Wednesday 11th February 2026. If you are invited to submit a full application, you will have until Wednesday 25th March 2026 to complete it.
EOIs received after the February deadline will be considered in the next round. Successful applicants will be expected to start spending their grant within three months of receipt, or for grants awarded in May, in the following autumn term. Throughout the duration of your grant, we ask that you collect stories and pictures to complete a photo diary.
Call for Applications
Open
Maximum Grant
£10,000
Deadline
11 February 2026 – 12:00pm
Who can apply?
Charity, School, Social Enterprise/CIC, and Voluntary/Community Group
Eligible Area
Breckland, Great Yarmouth, and North Norfolk
Find Out More & Apply
Interested? Talk to Gemma
