Aberdeen Science Centre has launched a new initiative that will offer Universal Credit recipients discounted rates of entry, in time for the October school holidays.
The Science for All offer aims to make science more accessible to families and individuals across the North-east and beyond, with reduced entry prices now available for both children and adults.
Through the scheme, which is now available permanently for visitors booking online or purchasing admission in-person, entry at the centre will be discounted to £5.50 for eligible adults and £3.50 for children.
Bryan Snelling, chief executive at Aberdeen Science Centre, said that the introduction of the Science for All initiative is a positive step to break down barriers to STEM discovery.
He added: “At Aberdeen Science Centre, we believe that science should be open to everyone, regardless of background. Our Science for All initiative will make the centre more accessible to families who are in receipt of Universal Credit and might not otherwise be able to visit us.”
“Our mission is to inspire the power of curiosity in all our visitors, and this scheme has been implemented to reflect our commitment to inclusivity, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to discover and enjoy the centre’s interactive exhibits and fun science workshops.”
Visitors to Aberdeen Science Centre using the Science for All discount will need to provide proof of payment on the Universal Credit Portal from within the last month, along with a form for valid ID. All admissions under the initiative will be handled confidentially by staff.
The scheme has been introduced in time for the October holidays, which will feature a range of new activities at the centre for families to enjoy during the school break.
This includes a series of Curiosity Clubs taking place throughout October, designed to engage children aged 7-10 with the world of science. These sessions will see children make slime, create stop-motion movies and learn about human biology.
The Curiosity Clubs will take place on Tuesday, October 14, Friday, October 17 and Wednesday, October 22, priced at £20 per child taking part.
Aberdeen Science Centre is currently running its Mission: Engineer theme, which sees visitors explore different branches of engineering and their real-world applications through new workshops and activities.
It is also hosting some out of this world fun for visitors to enjoy during World Space Week, which began on Saturday, October 4 and runs until Friday, October 10.
This involves a variety of space-themed activities in the centre’s Space Zone and across its exhibition floor, including docking a virtual spaceship, launching air rockets and discovering how GPS trackers work.
A special outer space Virtual Reality (VR) experience is also available on weekends in October that will allow visitors to explore the solar system, step onto the International Space Station and view the Mars Curiosity rover, all without leaving the centre.
The school holiday activities will culminate in Aberdeen Science Centre’s annual Spooky Science Halloween Party, taking place on Saturday, November 1 from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.
The event promises an afternoon of spine-tingling fun for the whole family, where visitors will be guided through a series Halloween-themed science experiments, slime making sessions and spooktacular party games.
Partygoers are encouraged to dress up in their favourite Halloween costumes for a chance to win a ‘fang-tastic’ prize.
Spaces are limited at the Halloween event, so parents are encouraged to book now to avoid disappointment.
Bryan continued: “The October school holidays is always one of our favourite times of the year, and we hope that our Science for All initiative will help to make it a fun and accessible time for family members of all ages. With so many activities running in our centre this month, including our Mission: Engineering theme, Curiosity Clubs and Space Week fun, alongside our Halloween event, you can be sure there will be something for everyone to enjoy.”
To book a visit to the centre or for more information on the Science for All initiative, visit https://aberdeensciencecentre.org/
To find out more about the activities on offer at Aberdeen Science Centre in October, visit https://aberdeensciencecentre.org/whats-on/
