FAQs -
Science Boffins UK
Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of answers to questions we are frequently asked but please don't hesitate to pick up the phone or email if you wish to discuss your particular circumstances.
How much does it cost?
Do you offer a guarantee?
How long is the presentation?
Will you come to my home?
What is a suitable age?
What do you do?
Do you cater for children with special needs?
Do you only do birthdays?
What days of the week will you present?
Can adults watch the show?
What is the maximum and minimum number of children at a presentation?
How many Boffins come along?
Is it safe?
Do you have Criminal Records Bureau checks?
Do you need any special equipment?
What are the space requirements?
Can the children do any experiments?
Do you do special requests?
What time slots do you use?
How much is the mileage charge?
Can you provide party bags?
Can we break the party into two parts and give the children food in the interval?
Can we take photographs?
Is it OK to post photos on your Gallery?
What areas of the country do you cover?
Can we have the party outdoors?
Who are the Boffins?
Will you make a special fuss of the birthday child?
Will you entertain for commercial organisations?
Are you insured?
When do I pay?
Can I pay the Boffin on the day?
Do you accept credit cards?
Can I reserve a date?
What if I have to cancel?
I don’t know how many kids will be coming. Can I still book?
How much does it cost?
The cost varies and depends on three factors:
1) The length and content of the show
2) The number of children
3) The distance from the nearest Boffin
As a guide the basic cost starts from £195.00.
You can also see an easy cost calculator within the Booking Form.
Do you offer a guarantee?
If you are not happy with your Presentation we will give you a full refund of your fees and mileage. Please see our Terms and Conditions.
How long is the presentation?
You can choose the length from one hour upwards in ½ hour increments. However, we don’t recommend more than 1 hour for 3 – 5 year olds.
Will you come to my home?
Yes, gladly if you are within our region. You will see that we have no special requirement other than enough room for the kids to be able to sit on the floor and a covered table on which to place our experiments. Please see: regions we cover.
What is a suitable age?
Our general guideline is from 3 - 12 years. Your Boffin will tailor the presentation to suit the age of the audience. For instance, we won't try to teach the younger ones the principles of advance molecular structure (unless they beg us)!
What do you do?
We will entertain the children with a whole variety of experiments during which we will get them to take part in one way or another. Indoors, the experiments are all clean and dry. Outside, we may have a few wet ones!!
Do you cater for children with special needs?
Yes, we really do our best. We have had great parties with children who have had a wide range of physical or learning difficulties. After the first ten minutes we are all having such a good time, everyone forgets any barriers and we just get on with the serious business of having fun!
Do you only do birthdays?
We have attended Weddings, Confirmations, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Communions, Farewell parties, Hello Parties, 40th birthdays. In fact, you name it and our Boffin will be there. Any excuse for a party is good enough for us.
What days of the week will you present?
We limit ourselves to seven days a week.
Can adults watch the show?
Yes, and at no extra charge! In fact we ask that at least one adult is present all the time.
What is the maximum and minimum number of children at a presentation?
We don't really have a minimum or maximum. Because it is very much an interactive show we normally say that there should be at least five kids. At the other end of the scale, when the numbers are over 30, the participation level might drop and it becomes more like a lesson.
How many Boffins come along?
Typically, one. For very large parties we may provide more or, if you want to offer a helper to marshal the children, then we can save you cost.
Is it safe?
Yes, absolutely. The experiments are more on the physics side of science so we don’t mix dangerous chemicals in your front room.
Do you have Criminal Records Bureau checks?
Yes. All our Boffins have been CRB checked.
Do you need any special equipment?
No. All we ask is covered table, typically about 4 ft (1.2m) long on which to place our experiments. Sometimes we may ask to use your sink.
What are the space requirements?
Just enough space for the Boffin and for the children to sit on the floor.
Can the children do any experiments?
Oh absolutely! We will get the children involved in almost all the experiments. They will touch, feel or race as much as possible.
Do you do special requests?
We will always try to accommodate special requests but each Boffin has his/her specials and your particular request may not always be available.
What time slots do you use?
You are not tied to any time slot. However we would prefer to start our presentation 15 minutes after the children have been asked to arrive. This allows enough time for them to settle down without getting too excited.
How much is the mileage charge?
We charge 50 pence on the return mileage. The first choice for your party will be the nearest Boffin, but due to circumstances this is may not always be possible.
Can you provide party bags?
It would be a pleasure. Our standard party bags have five gifts and our deluxe bags have eight; gifts are selected for their scientific value and are guaranteed not to rot teeth!
Can we break the party into two parts and give the children food in the interval?
Sorry, but we really don’t like to do this. Experience has taught us that the kids lose their concentration and it is very hard to get it back, not to mention the inevitable sugar spike that leaves them hyper.
Can we take photographs?
Of course. We are only too pleased to see you snapping away. We always make a special request for photos to be added to our Gallery and send your child a special extra gift as a thank you.
Is it OK to post photos on your Gallery?
In the current PC atmosphere parents are naturally concerned on this subject. The answer is, so long as the children cannot be identified by name or their parents have given permission, there is no problem.
What areas of the country do you cover?
We cover almost all of England and the lowlands of Scotland. Please see the regions we cover to check if you are in our area.
Can we have the party outdoors?
Yes, by all means. You provide the weather and we will do the rest.
Who are the Boffins?
Our Boffins are very special people who make that whole thing possible. Generally, they are actors or teachers that love interacting with children. Check them out on our at Meet the Boffins.
Will you make a special fuss of the birthday child?
You bet! Where we need just one person to assist, guess who we pick on. We want to give your child a party to remember. That said, we have had parties where we are particularly requested not to single out one person, so of course we comply.
Will you entertain for commercial organisations?
There is a long list of commercial events to which we have been invited: Holiday Clubs, School Open Days, Family Days, Christmas Parties, Rock Festivals, Local Council Promotions, Garden Centres, Fetes, Museums.
Are you insured?
Yes, all our Boffins are insured. But, we have never claimed on it and intend to keep it that way.
When do I pay?
We ask that you send us just £50.00 to secure your booking and the balance is then payable 2 weeks before the party.
Can I pay the Boffin on the day?
Sorry, our Boffins are there to entertain and don't get involved in the money side of the business.
Do you accept credit cards?
Yes, with pleasure.
Can I reserve a date?
Give us a call and we will hold an agreed date and time for 3 working days. This will give you time to book a hall or make any other necessary arrangements.
What if I have to cancel?
We understand that the unforeseen may happen. We will try to accommodate you with a new date and carry over your deposit.
I don’t know how many kids will be coming. Can I still book?
Yes. Make your booking as normal. We can adjust the numbers nearer the date of the party.
Please contact us if you have any other questions or would like to make a booking.
Call us on Free Phone 0208 953 5566 or 020 3603 6576.
More: About | What We Do | Regions We Cover | Science Matters | Meet The Boffins | Safety Assured | FAQs
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* 9-18 March 2012! *
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