Eureka!, the national children’s science charity operating sites in Halifax and the Wirral, has been awarded a grant of £50,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation to bolster its year-round learning offer for schools.
Funds to broaden curriculum-linked and inclusive sessions
The funding will be channelled into the charity’s Play and Learning Programme, which provides hands-on workshops, live science demonstrations and specialist support for visits by schools. The programme reaches around 34,000 pupils annually and is designed to prioritise children from areas with lower educational and career prospects.
Among the immediate benefits are two newly developed sessions aimed at Key Stages 1–3. One, titled The Gross Lab, invites Years 1 and 2 to investigate the biology of the human body—covering topics such as scabs, saliva, germs and mucus—through tactile activities and live demonstrations. The other new session, The Robot Show, is targeted at Years 3–9 and focuses on robotics concepts including sensors, task execution and basic programming. The Robot Show is offered at the Wirral location.
“This funding helps develop learning experiences for children who are furthest from strong education and career outcomes,” said Eureka! chief executive Leigh‑Anne Stradeski.
Access, inclusion and scale
Visits are tailored for school groups: standard sessions accommodate up to 35 pupils and include facilitation by trained staff, quieter access on school days, a dedicated student space and resources aimed at pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The grant is explicitly framed as support for children in under‑privileged communities, helping maintain free or subsidised access where budgets are tight.
- Grant amount: £50,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation
- Annual reach: approximately 34,000 pupils
- New sessions: The Gross Lab (Years 1–2); The Robot Show (Years 3–9, Wirral only)
- Booking capacity: standard school sessions for up to 35 students
The new sessions will run at both venues through to 21 July 2027, according to the charity’s timetable. Eureka! emphasises that its exhibits and sessions are interactive and designed to spark curiosity in science, technology and creative making—elements often cited in national strategies to boost STEM engagement from an early age.
Why this matters
Extra funding for hands‑on, curriculum-linked out‑of‑classroom learning matters for two reasons. First, such experiences are a recognised way of consolidating classroom teaching by providing practical contexts that make abstract concepts tangible. Second, targeted support for schools in disadvantaged areas can help narrow attainment and aspiration gaps that are persistent across the UK.
For museums and science centres, grant income is increasingly vital as schools face tightening budgets and rising costs. Support from independent foundations can therefore preserve and extend programmes that might otherwise be scaled back. By investing in both early years biology and introductory robotics, the funding addresses a spectrum of scientific literacy: from bodily processes that underpin health education to basic computational thinking for future technology careers.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Grant | £50,000 (Garfield Weston Foundation) |
| Annual pupil reach | Approximately 34,000 |
| Venues | Halifax and the Wirral |
| New sessions | The Gross Lab (KS1), The Robot Show (KS2–3, Wirral) |
| Session capacity | Up to 35 students |
As the education sector continues to adapt to post‑pandemic challenges and budget pressures, this targeted philanthropic support exemplifies how museums and charities can sustain outreach that complements formal schooling. For teachers and headteachers in the north of England, the funding should mean continued access to well‑resourced, inclusive science encounters that are mapped to the national curriculum.
Operational details such as booking procedures, availability of SEND adjustments and precise session content remain managed by the charity. Schools interested in securing places can contact the venues directly for dates and support options.
