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Public Engagement
  1. Queen Mary University of London
  2. Public Engagement
  3. Funding
  4. Participatory Research Fund
  5. Apply to the Participatory Research Fund

Apply to the Participatory Research Fund

Participatory research involves non-academic partners in the research process. This could include contributing to the research question, data collection and analysis and interpretation of results. 

The Research England funded Participatory Research Grants are a competitive process with a maximum of £10,000 of funding available per project. The Participatory Research Grants are designed to support research projects with a substantial participatory element where participants and community partners are involved in the co-design, implementation and/or dissemination of the research. In this way, applications to the scheme should involve those not necessarily trained in research but who have lived experience of the topic under study, to drive for change. For some good examples of participatory research projects and relevant literature, see here. 

Potential applicants are invited to a practice-sharing event where participatory researchers from across a variety of disciplines, departments and career stages at QMUL will come together to discuss successes as well as failures in participatory research. Previous grant holders will also offer insights into their experience of the Participatory Research Fund scheme. This event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday 30th October 2024 in Queens' Building LG3. Register on Eventbrite to attend the event. 

The Participatory Research Grants are open for applications from Monday 23 September to Monday 4 November 23:59.

Application Information

Steps:

  1. Familiarise yourself with the Participatory Grants Guidance 2024-25 [PDF 251KB]. We highly recommend you read this thoroughly.
  2. Consider whether you want to join one of the Grant Advice Drop In Sessions (see joining details below). 
  3. Complete the Participatory Grants Application Form 2024-25 [DOC 300KB]. 
  4. Submit your completed application to publicengagement@qmul.ac.uk with 'Participatory Research Grant Application - Your Name' in the subject line by Monday 4th November 2024 23:59. Late applications will not be accepted. 

You will receive an email as confirmation of receipt. All applicants will be contacted by the week commencing 25th November 2024.

 

All applications to the Participatory Research Grants must meet the following criteria: 

  • The project enables participatory or co-produced research with stakeholders outside of the university. 
  • The communities of the research have been well-defined, or there is a clear plan to better define this community, with a view to improving opportunities for involvement in the future.  
  • There is a clear link to the research being undertaken at Queen Mary University of London. Applications can come from any faculty or institute, at any stage of the research lifecycle. 
  • There are some indications as to how learning from the project will be shared with others 
  • The activity clearly demonstrates a participatory approach to research 

Applicants must be current staff at Queen Mary, with a contract end date no sooner than 1 August 2025. We welcome applications from staff at all career stages and this is not used as a criterion in the selection process.  

Lead applicants must be the individuals who will be responsible for delivering the project and subsequent reporting. External applicants are able to apply to the scheme (for example community groups) as co-applicants  on projects.  

To ensure all applications engage external groups with Queen Mary research, teaching, or services, all submissions must have at least one applicant from within the University who will be held responsible for assisting the delivery of the projects and reporting on outcomes.

Download the application documents below:

The CPE will be running a number of Grant Advice Drop In Sessions over the forthcoming weeks. These will be held online on Teams. You do not need to register to attend, simply join in at any point in the meeting, staff from the CPE will be available to answer your questions. We will operate on a first come first served basis. Please bookmark the time in your diary. 

If you cannot make any of the dates available, email publicengagement@qmul.ac.uk with your questions, if needed we can arrange a call.  

Participatory or co-produced research strengthens research outcomes by involving the communities and users of research, better recognising their experience, needs and preferences, and giving greater agency to communities to implement findings.
— Research England
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