Frequently Asked Questions

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 presenters 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?
Do you offer party invitations?
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 outside?
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 take 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 on three factors
1) The length of the show
2) The number of children and
3) The distance from the nearest Boffin. 
But as a guide the basic cost starts from £200.00
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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
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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 5 – 6 years.
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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 table on which to place our experiments. Click on where we work to see our map.
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What is a suitable age?      
Our general guideline is from 5 to 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 principals of advance molecular structure (unless they beg us).
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What do you do?      
We will entertain the children with a variety of experiments during which we will get them to take part in one way or another.  Indoors they are all clean and dry. Outside, we may have a few wet ones!!
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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!
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Do you only do birthdays?   
No, by no means.  We have attended Weddings, Confirmations, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Communions, Bye-Bye parties, Hello Parties, 40th birthdays.  In fact, you name it and we will be there.  Any excuse for a party is good enough for us.
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What days of the week will you present?   
We limit ourselves to seven days a week.
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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.
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What is the maximum and minimum number of children at a presentation?     
We don’t really have a min or max.  Because it is very much an interactive we normally say that there should be at least five kids.  At the other end of the scale, when the numbers get over say 30, the participation level might drop and it becomes more like seminar.
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How many presenters come along?          
Typically, one. 
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Is it safe?       
Yes, absolutely.  The experiments are more on the physics side of science so we don’t start to mix dangerous chemicals in your front room. 
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Do you have Criminal Records Bureau checks? 
Yes.  All our Boffins carry CRB checks.
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Do you need any special equipment?       
No.  All we ask is table, typically about 4 ft (1.2m) long on which to place our experiments.  Sometimes we may ask to use your sink.
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What are the space requirements?           
Just enough space for the Boffin and the children to sit on the floor.
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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.
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Do you do special requests?          
We will always try to accommodate special requests but each Boffins has his/her specials and your particular request may not always be available.
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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.
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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 not always possible.
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Do you offer party invitations?        
We are please to offer as many invites as you require without charge.  Look at  online booking form to find the links to our Free Stationery
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Can you provide party bags?         
It would be a pleasure.  Our party bags are always very well received.  They comprise five toys chosen for their Scientific interest and guaranteed not to rot the teeth!
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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 loose their concentration and it is very hard to get it back, not to mention the inevitable sugar spike that leaves them hyper.
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Can we take photographs?
But 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.
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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.
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What areas of the country do you cover?  
We cover London, The North West, East Midlands, South East and South of England.  We also cover Glasgow, Edinburgh and Central Scotland. Please see our map to check if you are in our area.
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Who are the Boffins?           
Our Boffins are very special people who make that whole thing possible.  Firstly let us say that they love children and interacting with kids.  Generally they are actors or teachers.  Check them out on our at Meet the Boffins 
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Will you make a special fuss of the birthday child?          
You bet yer.  Where we need just one person to assist, guess who we pick on.  We want to give your child a party to remember.  That having been said we have had parties where we are particularly requested not to single out one person so of course we comply
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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.
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Are you insured?      
Yes, all our Boffins are insured.  But, we have never claimed on it and intend to keep it that way.
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When do I pay?        
We ask that you send us just £50.00 to secure your booking and the balance is then payable 2weeks before the party.
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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.
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Do you take credit cards?    
With pleasure.
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Can I reserve a date?          
Sure.  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.
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What if I have to cancel?     
We understand that the unforeseen may happen.  Will try to accommodate you with a new date and carry over your deposit as necessary.
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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.
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Phone us on 0800 019 2636 or send us an e-mail