Introduction

Founded in 1936, the Wellcome Trust is an independent foundation that seeks to improve health by supporting researchers, addressing big health challenges, campaigning for better science and encouraging everyone to get involved with science and health research.

Call objectives and options

There are no limits on project scope, however, the proposal should be aligned to the current research programme and must be underpinned by a clear rationale. Proposed programmes of activities should include opportunities to:

• Explore how public engagement can ensure the research resonates with the public.
• Use insights from the public to develop the research.
• Develop the applicant's public engagement and leadership skills, and the skills of the research team members.

This initiative was previously known as the Provision for Public Engagement scheme.

Budget

Applicants can ask for funding of between £10,000 and £250,000. The funding levels requested are usually around 5% of the total research grant, and should be based on the funding level and time remaining on the main Wellcome grant and the scale and scope of the proposed public engagement project.

Funds can be used for a variety of costs, such as:

• Dedicated salaried posts, where justified.
• Other personnel costs directly related to the programme, including salary replacement or cover (eg teaching staff).
• Consultancy costs and project management fees.
• Direct activity and production costs, including venue costs, equipment and materials.
• Relevant public engagement training and development.
• Travel costs.
• Evaluation, including formative/development costs.
• Administration costs that are not already covered by other funding.
• Marketing and publicity costs for events and activities.
• Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.
• Contingency costs, as long as these are reasonable and justified.
• VAT on fees where the VAT cannot be reclaimed.

Funding ends at the same time as the main Wellcome grant.

Applicants cannot use funding for:

• Engagement activities which are essential to carrying out research in an ethical way (eg consulting with community advisory panels or communicating research findings to research participants).
• Engagement with specialist audiences (eg policy makers, scientists, healthcare professionals and public engagement professionals, without the involvement of public voices).
• Media and communication activities (eg broadcast, radio, websites and press releases).

General overheads cannot be funded. (Some overhead costs can be covered in certain circumstances if they meet specific criteria.)

Eligibility

Applicants must be a:

• Current Wellcome-funded grantholder from one of the Trust's eligible schemes, or
• Successful applicant to one of the Trust's eligible schemes (ie received an award confirmation letter).

Applications from researchers at all career stages are encouraged, although it is expected that most applicants will have some experience of public engagement.

All of the Trust's funding schemes are eligible apart from the following:

• Biomedical Vacation Scholarships
• Doctoral Studentships
• Engagement Fellowships
• Four-year PhD Studentships in Science
• International Master's Fellowships
• Master's Studentships in Humanities and Social Science
• PhD Training Fellowships for Clinicians
• Seed Awards in Humanities and Social Science
• Seed Awards in Science
• Small Grants in Humanities and Social Science
• The Hub Award

Application

Deadlines:

Applicants must submit their application through the Wellcome Trust Grant Tracker (WTGT) system.

Deadline:

• 9 April 2021 (17:00 BST) - this is the final deadline for this scheme.

In case of interest, please contact lnorton(ELIMINAR)@fsjd.org