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Public Engagement Grant Scheme

Applications for 2024 are closed.

Find out about who this Limit Less scheme supports and how to sign up for alerts.


The Public Engagement Grant Scheme (PEGS) aims to support the IOP Limit Less campaign by improving the relationship with physics of young people and their influencers, including their parents and carers. This could be by showcasing relatable role models of those doing physics, actively challenging stereotypes and preconceptions, sharing positive messages about physics, and more!

Keep up to date with the Public Engagement Grant Scheme by signing up for email alerts

Who can apply

The scheme is open to individuals and organisations in the UK and Republic of Ireland who are passionate about promoting engagement with physics. You might be:

  • a community group
  • a not-for-profit organisation
  • an IOP member
  • a researcher in academia or industry
  • a museum
  • a library
  • an arts group

The grant looks to prioritise projects that reach whole family or community groups with young people under the age of 16 who identify with one or more of the following groups:

  • Girls and young women
  • Disabled young people
  • LGBT+ young people
  • Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds
  • Black Caribbean young people

We are hoping to fund projects that can evidence public engagement best practice, the ability to reach one or more of these audiences, and evidence of positive impacts linked to the aims of Limit Less.

If you are planning a project that focuses on school enrichment, formal education or only the young people themselves, your project is unlikely to meet our eligibility criteria. Wondering if you are eligible to apply? Take a look at our FAQ page.

Children participating in physics public engagement activities

How much you can apply for

To be announced for 2025.

About the 2024 scheme

In 2024 we updated the format of the grant scheme, opening the funding window for longer to allow applicants to build bespoke projects for PEGS and links with the communities they are hoping to connect with. Applicants could apply for between £500 and £4,000 (or a Euro equivalent).

How to apply

The 2024 scheme has closed.

Our help and guidance

The FAQ section on our website is always a good first place to check, for common questions and guidance.

The scheme will be managed by IOP Public Engagement Officer, Imogen Thompson. Email [email protected] with any questions or for support.

A few of our recipients

  • “Funding enriches ongoing activities that we run on our ship, with new resources and ways of engaging underserved communities, specifically in the summer holidays. The reusable resources will have long-term applications for other groups as well as help us to build our partnership with (local physics) businesses and their STEM volunteers.” MV Balmoral. Grant recipient 2024
  • “Starseekers: Beyond the Museum Walls resulted in a series of planetarium sessions, stargazing evenings, observatory workshops and other activities for families from disadvantaged backgrounds and the Black Families Education Support Group.” Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Bath Astronomers and the University of Bath Observatory. Grant recipients 2023
  • “We are grateful to the IOP for providing us with an outreach grant, which will enable Family Action to pilot a wide range of fun, hands-on and family-friendly, rocket-themed fun days for vulnerable and low-income families during the 2018 summer holidays.” Family Action, grant recipient 2018

Projects we have funded in recent years

More information

Email: [email protected]

Check our FAQs page

Read our applicant guidelines (PDF, 170KB)

Support young people to change the world

Limit Less is our campaign to support young people to change the world and fulfil their potential by doing physics