The role of informal science in youth work: Findings from Curiosity round one

Curiosity is a grant-funding programme from the Wellcome Trust with BBC Children in Need., and it provides funding to help youth organisations develop and deliver inspiring science activities for disadvantaged children and young people. This report looks at the key findings from the 32 projects funded during the first round.

The Round 1 projects were delivered by voluntary and community sector organisations, some of which were in partnership with ISL providers, and offered a variety of science opportunities from surveying local weather to building a green-powered race car. Many projects explored multiple science themes, driven by the children and young people’s interests. The environment and natural sciences, especially related to the local environment, were also popular topics. All of the young people involved in the Curiosity projects were experiencing disadvantage, often of multiple types. The overwhelming majority were experiencing poverty and deprivation, and many faced a variety of other challenges too. While there were a small number of projects specifically aimed at young carers and young people with disabilities and long-term health conditions, several of the other projects also supported young people with these disadvantages, along with refugees, young people with behavioural difficulties and other marginalised groups.