The Public Engagement Unit runs the Engage Grants and aims to support researchers at the University of Bath to develop their skills and understanding of public engagement with research.
The Engage Grants have been running since 2013, and over £275,000 has been invested by the Public Engagement Unit to fund researchers, whatever their level of public engagement expertise, to engage public groups with their work.
Application process
The Engage Grants are run on an annual basis. Applications for the 2023/2024 grants scheme is now closed and will reopen in autumn 2024.
Previous Engage Grants schemes
The Engage Grants funding scheme has taken many forms and included one-off initiatives and funding opportunities over the last 12 years to reflect the needs and priorities of academic colleagues.
Participate Grants 2023/2024
In 2024 as part of the ParticipatoryResearch@Bath project, the Public Engagement Unit co-created with community representatives and researchers the Participate Grants. This funding scheme aimed to improve the connections between society and University of Bath research by supporting research projects that were a collaboration between researchers and community groups.
The call was open for five months between Monday 22 January and Friday 10 May 2024 over two stages. Applicants submitted an outline proposal and, after an eligibility sift, were invited to submit a full application. Full details can be found on the Participate Grants application guide.
We had a total of £75,000 to distribute as part of the call, and taking a portfolio approach, we funded 14 projects. Find out more about the funded projects by visiting the blog announcing the successful projects funded.
Engage and Involve Grants 2023/2024
For the 2023/2024 edition of the Engage Grants, the scope of the funding call was broadened to support projects that seek to engage people with and/or involve them in research.
The call was open for six weeks between Monday 23 October and Friday 8 December 2023, and we invited applications from across the University of Bath, creating the Engage and Involve Grants application guide to help colleagues in their applications.
We had a total of £20,000 to distribute as part of the call, and we funded 10 projects of £2,000 each. Find out more about the funded projects by visiting the blog announcing the successful projects funded.
Engage Grants (2019-2022)
Between 2019 and 2022 we ran a tiered funding call, made up of three different Engage Grants funds:
Start-Up Fund - for activities up to £250 for activities that enable applicants to foster a relationship with a public group.
Initiator Fund - for projects up to £750 for applicants to carry out small-scale or pilot public engagement with research activities.
Progression Fund - for projects up to £3,500 for applicants to carry out activities that support them to advance their public engagement with research practice and knowledge.
Innovate Fund (2017 and 2021)
In 2017 and 2021 the Public Engagement Unit ran one-off funding calls (with £20,000 allocated each year), the Innovate Fund to address identified needs from the academic community and innovate in the practice of public engagement with research at the University of Bath. The fund aimed to:
Public Engagement Seed Fund (2013-2018)
The first iteration of our Engage Grants was part of the Engaged360@Bath project. The Public Engagement Seed Fund ran between 2013 and 2018 and offered grants for public engagement with research projects of between £250 and £2,000.