Educating the next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs

Step into the real shoes of real scientists and innovators

Plan your visit and explore our workshop guides

Currently raised:
£55,000
Our target by June 2026:
£120,000

4,000 +

Visitors to date

45 +

Different schools/groups reached

Outreach

Sparking curiosity in STEM and entrepreneurship across generations

From climate change to healthcare, tackling humanity’s greatest challenges requires more scientists, entrepreneurs and diverse perspectives.

Our Outreach pillar fosters engagement with STEM, Deep Tech and entrepreneurship through educational programmes that inspire young minds and public events that spark curiosity for science-hungry audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Our educational programmes are delivered by our independent registered charity, Science Creates Outreach.

Our charity

The world needsmore scientists and entrepreneurs to tackle global challenges

Our mission

Everybody has a spark. Our charity wants to help young people find their spark for science and entrepreneurship.

Science Creates Outreach is a registered charity with a mission to educate and empower young people to engage with STEM (science, engineering, technology and maths) and entrepreneurship, encouraging innovation and problem-solving, and equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to change the world.

Our impact

By putting young people in the heart of working labs, surrounded by scientists and engineers of different ages, genders and backgrounds, we show them that STEM innovation and entrepreneurship are done by people just like them.

Our charity offers schools and home-ed groups:

  • Curriculum-linked STEM workshops at The Learning Lab
  • ‍Behind-the-scenes tours of working science labs
  •  Opportunities to have conversations with real scientists and engineers

Our story

Outreach has always been an important part of the Science Creates story. In 2017, realising the importance of showing young people where real, groundbreaking science takes place, we began a series of one-off ‘school days’ that quickly led to a regular outreach programme — and then to the launch of an independent charity.

The demand and impact of this outreach was so evident that we designed The Learning Lab, a dedicated STEM learning space for outreach at our Old Market incubator.

Charity supporters

Public Event
26 Jun 2025

An evening of science, storytelling and spectacular bakes in support of STEM outreach

The Learning Lab

A space to step into the shoes of real scientists and innovators

The Learning Lab is an inclusive research space at our Science Creates Old Market incubator, designed to inspire young people to be curious and experiment.

In this unique space, young people can take hands-on experiments in a real-life scientific environment, and engage with real-life innovators from our Deep Tech community.

The Lab also welcomes adult groups for immersive away-day experiences and a look behind the scenes of Science Creates.

Hire The Learning Lab

A chance to experience what it’s like to be a scientist first-hand — available for hire for corporate visits as well as student groups.

Schools & education

Discover the educational programmes ran by our charity including guides to our curriculum-linked STEM workshops, and plan your visit to us.

Testimonials

“I firmly believe that single events can change lives and that Science Creates Outreach has the power to cause these. Among the young people visiting there will perhaps be hundreds over the years who will be inspired to become scientists. By visiting The Learning Lab and seeing scientists, students discover the special atmosphere and reward that practical science offers.”

Dr John Manley

Testimonials

"All of the scientists who deliver workshops are enthusiastic and inspiring, and they interact well with the learners. I’m looking forward to the upcoming workshops in our second collaboration with the charity."

Jo Sweetland

Testimonials

"I loved visiting and doing fun experiments with my class. When I grow up I want to be a scientist and rent one of the labs here one day so that I can start my own invention company, just like the ladies at Science Creates!"

Year 5 Student

Outreach team

Harry Destecroix

Charity Trustee

Harry is the Founder of the Science Creates ecosystem, Founder & Managing Partner of SCVC, and Trustee of Science Creates Outreach. He founded his first company, Ziylo, in 2014 during his chemistry PhD. As CEO, he led Ziylo to acquisition in 2018 in a deal worth up to $800m. Three years prior, Harry built Bristol’s first Deep Tech incubator (thus founding Science Creates) after identifying the need for specialised lab space for startups in Bristol. In 2020, he founded SCVC, Science Creates’ VC arm, to back category-defining Deep Tech companies in the UK.

Harry’s work has been recognised multiple times, winning the 2023 RSC award for Chemistry World Entrepreneur of the Year and Barclays’ Icon of the Year entrepreneurship award in 2021. In 2025, Harry was awarded an MBE in the King’s 2025 New Year Honours List for his services to science.

Charlie Proctor

Founder & Head of Outreach

Formally a primary school teacher in inner-city Bristol, Charlie is an founding member of the Science Creates team, originally joining to lead on HR and operations. She is passionate about making sure all young people have access to enjoy and learn from the world around them, which resulted in her founding and running Science Creates Outreach — our STEM education charity. When she’s not inspiring the next generation of scientists, Charlie is outdoors, camping and exploring new places.

Ben Hetherington

Head of Outreach (maternity cover)

Ben joined Science Creates in 2024 as maternity cover for the charity’s CEO & Founder, Charlie Proctor. Sporting both a BSc in Chemistry and a PGCE from the University of Leeds, Ben brings a combined passion for science and education to his role as Head of Outreach, delivering engaging STEM workshops to the next generation of leaders, pioneers and entrepreneurs. Ben has strong experience in a variety of educational settings, with a focus on supporting disadvantaged young people and those with SEND.

Rachel Stratton

Digital Content Creator

With degrees in chemistry and science communication, Rachel combines her scientific background with her broad PR experience and artistic creativity to tell the stories from across the Science Creates community through impactful digital content. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys playing and coaching hockey, soaking up Bristol’s live music scene, and producing commissioned artwork.

Chris Ball

Charity Development Manager

Holding a degree in Business Studies, with a specialisation in Charity Fundraising Management, Chris brings a wealth of expertise in strategic growth and innovation to the team. Alongside this role, Chris runs a successful furniture design and manufacture workshop, and is passionate about educating young people about entrepreneurialism and careers.

Ayanda Mthembu

Volunteer Outreach Administrator

Ayanda holds a BTEC Diploma in Medical Science and draws on her passion for laboratory work and research through her role as a Volunteer Outreach Administrator. Ayanda is particularly interested in enhancing young people’s appreciation of science and building meaningful experiences that benefit the community through Science Creates Outreach.

Freskida Goni

Volunteer Outreach Administrator

Freskida volunteers to help drive the mission of Science Creates Outreach forward. She has a PhD in Chemistry, and brings a wealth of scientific knowledge, coupled with expertise in events and communications. She is committed to making a positive impact on the world and is passionate about education and inspiring the next generation of scientists.

Caroline Clark

Trustee

Caroline, an engineer with expertise in startups, business operations, company culture, consultancy, and higher education, is the co-founder of Zebera, an innovation platform empowering young minds to solve real-world problems. Driven by a passion for people, she has fostered valuable collaborations, and impactful connections for the charity.

Jeremy Tavaré

Trustee

Jeremy is the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University of Bristol, holds a PhD in Biochemistry and is deeply passionate about science. Recognising the significance of inspiring the next generation, he serves as the Chair of our Board of Trustees. Jeremy brings extensive expertise in governance, finance and company reporting.

Knowledge Hub

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