SMASHfestUK: 2018/19 - consolidation application (360G-Wellcome-208895_Z_17_Z)

SMASHfestUK is at a critical juncture: Having established a successful family festival in Deptford, specifically engaging underserved audiences, we seek to consolidate learning, deepen, embed and extend our community engagement and develop sustainability plans. Our purpose is to increase STEAM engagement for people in Deptford and their families, ultimately leading to increase STEAM study/career choices, increased engagement with research and research outcomes, and increased biomedical knowledge. Increasing science and social capital will increase opportunities for young people in STEAM careers, thus increasing social mobility and future investment in the local Deptford economy. We seek to develop a business strategy for sustainability. A manager and community outreach team will be employed throughout 2018 and 2019 to underpin the development of community clubs and workshops, with outputs culminating in SMASHfestUK delivery. The manager will focus on diversifying our income portfolio: (we have 1 established commercial sponsor, Vound, and are negotiating with Air Products and Tideway, and are also developing a commercial arm) We will continue our community-embedded hyperlocal approach measuring science-capital outcomes, whilst continuing to build our interdisciplinary community of practice, by engendering intra and inter dialogues between publics and industry, and continuing to explore innovative methods and strategies for engagement.