Hi,

in my experience running something on a tight budget isn't a problem if 
you have help, imagination and use what is around you. For example, at a 
family event we had a section on testing every day items with litmus 
paper which you may think would be quite a quick item. I asked a friend, 
a local secondary school teacher if he could help out, and he arrived 
with lab coats and goggles and children spent ages with him trying 
everything they could get their hands on - including some of the 
refreshments from downstairs - and learning so much more because he was 
helping them. Getting the chance to dress up as real scientists was a 
real draw.

I've had film cannisters from the camera shop and cellophane from the 
baby club art box to show how the different plants grow with different 
coloured light. The local Tesco store awarded us £10 to spend in store 
and we did several different experiments from this including growing 
flowers (from my garden and the florists) in different coloured waters 
with food colouring which gave spectacular results and which the 
florists were happy to display in their window.

Lots of the ideas were from the British Science Association so the 
advice is to take the ideas and not be afraid to ask for help from :

schools, secondary schools and universities (the next stage up is always 
of great interest)
parents - especially if you want something specific
local businesses - you can put them on your posters and in press 
releases or give them something back to display or keep
National businesses

If you also have a theme then people who do things locally may come to 
you with an idea - for example we had Colour in Science as a theme and I 
tutored art so we learnt about colour mixing, the colour wheel and 
absorption of water based paints by salt and what we were using to paint 
on was satin which had been near the entrance to the marquee at my 
brother's wedding. In these days of reduce, reuse and recycle I'm sure 
lots more ideas for how you can do things cheaply or free would be 
available if you're brave enough to ask.

And people who run events on very small or non existent budgets can 
create wonderful things which people thoroughly enjoy.

Kerynne Robertson

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