A funding partnership between Wellcome and Children in Need (CiN) which will support informal engagement with science to improve the lives of disadvantaged young people. Science, and the spirit of curiosity and inquiry which characterises it, can have a range of benefits for children and young people. In the short term, it can support disadvantaged children and young people (CYP) in a range of ways, for example: to have fun with friends, build their self-esteem, engage their creativity and develop life skills. In the medium to long term it can lead to health and education benefits for well-being in later life. However, many young people from disadvantaged backgrounds struggle to engage with science in a school setting. Although there is a healthy and varied Informal Science Learning (ISL) sector providing opportunities outside of school, Wellcome research has shown that it is less effective at engaging those young people who have already been put off science and that effective approaches require a ‘trusted intermediary’. Project workers from the types of organisations CiN funds are well placed to play this role but may not see science as relevant or have the knowledge, confidence or skills to work through that medium. This funding partnership between Wellcome and CiN will explore how ISL can positively engage disadvantaged children and young people. Key Outcomes \- Strengthen the evidence-base on how informal science learning leads to positive outcomes for disadvantaged children. \- Enhance opportunities for disadvantaged CYP to engage with and enjoy ISL and develop their confidence and curiosity. Develop new connections among the child voluntary sector/youth sector, projects engaging disadvantaged CYP and ISL expertise. \- Influence youth work practice and training to develop ISL as an effective medium in working with disadvantaged CYP. \- Support new networks of projects with an interest in this area of work – locally and across the UK. \- Inform Wellcome and CiN future funding policies.