APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED! 

“We have the opportunity to create the future and decide what that’s like.” - Mae Jemison, NASA astronaut, engineer, physician, and the first Black woman to travel into space

Positive connections with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning in school can change a child’s life forever. At the same time, the need for talented people with STEM skills has never been more important in tackling the global challenges of climate change and achieving net zero.  

A quality experience with STEM empowers and inspires young people to widen their interests, develop their skill sets, open career opportunities and become confident and practical problem solvers. However, it is well documented that unequal access to high quality STEM education perpetuates racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and gender inequalities. Major challenges facing schools around resources, time allocation, and funding have proven major barriers to engaging kids with this vital area of learning.

This Spring, National Grid’s electricity distribution business has teamed up with Localgiving to provide £250k of funding for groups that inspire children to engage with STEM subjects and take their learning and connection with this area beyond what is covered by the regular school curriculum. Inspiring the STEM leaders of tomorrow not only supports National Grid’s wider objectives to deliver a clean, fair and affordable energy future, but also plays a part in meeting the anticipated 400,000 roles needed between now and 2050 to reach the UK’s net zero targets.

National Grid knows first-hand how important a diverse and inclusive STEM workforce is for the future of the energy industry, which will play a transformative role in decarbonising the UK.  Recognising the opportunity for the next generation to further harness its potential, National Grid is firmly committed to unlocking this talent, with a fund of £250k to support innovative and inspirational activities for young people.  

The Community Matters Fund (STEM Educational Support) is committed to supporting groups of young people in economically disadvantaged communities and those who are marginalised and underrepresented within STEM, widening the reach of a STEM career for the next generation.

Registered charities and non-profit companies can apply for up to £5,000. Unregistered community organisations can apply for up to £2,000. 

Please note - schools, whether registered charities or statutory bodies, are not eligible for the fund. Parent Teacher Associations and similar organisations can apply on behalf of their school.

Please note - we will be launching further phases later in the year focussing on different themes. Groups will only be eligible to receive funding for one phase only between March and December 2024. More details on the next phase of the National Grid Community Matters Fund will be published in Summer 2024.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED! 

Successful projects will need to meet at least one of the following themes:

• Open the eyes of a new generation to the exciting possibilities of a career in STEM. (For example, projects that bring the area to life in a lively and engaging way)
• Inspire further confidence and widen the skills of those already interested in STEM. (For example, hands-on workshops and interactive experiments)
• Break down barriers with access to tools, time, and resources for those for whom STEM’s potential may be unfamiliar. (For example, launching after-school coding clubs or giving access to 3D printers)

We’d welcome a blend of these themes, and also a particular focus on supporting children from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds for whom STEM may feel unfamiliar, out of reach or even intimidating.

National Grid provides electricity to eight million customers across the Midlands, South West England, and South Wales. Funding is available for registered charities, charitable companies, unregistered community organisations, and statutory bodies based in these locations who are supporting households experiencing fuel poverty. You can check if your organisation is eligible here.

Applications opened  on Wednesday 6^th March and closed on Wednesday 27th March 2024. Organisations that complete applications will be informed of their outcome in late April, with money distributed by early May. 

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED! 

If you are an existing Localgiving member then simply log into your account to apply. A link to the application form can be found under the ‘My Grants’ section of your account displayed on the left hand side of your dashboard. If you are not a Localgiving member then apply via the button below. If you are successful with your application and are not yet a Localgiving member, you will also receive a complimentary Localgiving annual membership.

Further information about the process can be found in our Funding Guide, which includes important eligibility information and FAQs.

Please note - organisations who received funding from National Grid before 2024 can apply for this grant but must return monitoring for their completed project in order to become eligible for further funding. Organisations that have not completed Localgiving’s registration and validation processes must submit all documentation required for the due diligence checks to be completed before the closing date of Wednesday 27th March.

If you have any further questions about the Community Matters Fund please contact our Help Desk via help@localgiving.org

The STEM Educational Support fund is the latest phase of the Community Matters Fund run by National Grid. The fund, which is paid for entirely by shareholders, has since 2021, awarded £10.3m of funding to 1,773 good causes since 2021, benefitting over 800,000 people in their communities. 

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” - –Alan Kay, computer scientist and winner of the A.M. Turing Award for his contributions to object-oriented programming languages and personal computing.