Funding
Each year, we aim to support researchers collaborating with community partners through our annual funding call. This Engaged Research Fund can cover expenses for a range of activities which engage with non-academic expertise as part of the research process.
We welcome applications from all members of the community, and particularly encourage applications from disadvantaged or underrepresented groups. Our funding call is currently closed for applications, but you can read about some of our past awards, and the projects completed below. If you have any questions about the funding process, please feel free to contact us at per@exeter.ac.uk!
Thriving Futures for Young People, Small Grants Fund
The new The Devon County Civic University Agreement (DC CUA) Thriving Futures for Young People, Small Grants Fund is now open. This Fund aims to accelerate delivery of evidence-based initiatives for young people across Devon. The programme will directly support the ambitions of the DC CUA Thriving Futures for Young People Mission and the Devon County Council’s (DCC) Brighter Futures: An Employment, Education and Training Strategy for Devon by supporting the implementation of research findings, piloting and scaling proven interventions, strengthening delivery capacity and helping to shape regional policy that supports and improves outcomes for young people in Devon. A total fund of £30,000 is available and applicants can apply for funding from £2,000 up to £15,000.
Applications will be accepted from: a member of staff from the University of Exeter; a VCSE organisation (constituted community group, CIC, or charity) operating in Devon County Council administered areas; or a secondary or post-16 education or training provider for young people under 25 in Devon County Council administered areas. Full Guidance is available here: DC CUA YP guidance.
We encourage collaborative applications, and to support this, a word application form is available to enable co-authoring. However, all applications must be submitted through the following Microsoft Form by 6pm on 29th May 2026:
DC CUA Thriving Futures for Young People Small Grants Fund Application Form 26-27 – Fill out form
PPIE Participant Payment Fund 2025-26
We are now accepting applications on a rolling basis for our 2025-26 Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Participant Payment Fund! If you are a University researcher looking to support participants' contributions to your research project, find out more on our SharePoint site.
Engaged & Participatory Research Funding Scheme 2025-26
We are excited to announce the successful awardees of our 2025-26 Engaged and Participatory Research Fund!
We received 69 applications, requesting a total fund of more than £450,000. This was a hugely competitive award, and the panel were greatly impressed by the range of projects proposed. Fourteen projects across the University have now been awarded funding to undertake collaborative projects alongside a community partner. You can read more about each of this year’s awardees, and the goals for their projects below!
Examples from previous awardees
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Engaged & Participatory Research Fund 2024-25
Congratulations to all our successful applicants for the Engaged and Participatory Research Fund! This fund supports projects which connect researchers to the wider community. We had an overwhelming response to this year’s funding call and received over 60 applications requesting a total of over £370,000. Ultimately, 23 projects were shortlisted and 11, of those, selected to receive funding.
You can read more about the awardees here: EPR Fund Awardees 24-25
"This has been really helpful - I have realised a lot of things I have been doing fall into public engagement and can now work to be more purposeful about it all."
Dr. Siobhan Mitchell
Research Fellow in Child and Adolescent Health
Engaged Research Funds 2023–24
Within the 2023–24 academic year we offered five distinct Engaged Research Funds. These included: the PPIE Fund, the Research Seed Fund, the Research Springboard Fund, the Participatory Research Exploratory Fund, and the Bridging Communities Fund.
Celebrate the most recent successes of the Engaged Research Funds awardees can view more about their projects in the pamphlets below.
Springboard Fund 2022-23
The 2022-23 Springboard Fund was open to academic and professional staff at all career stages across the University, providing financial support for public engagement activities or participatory research. Read more about the awardees and their work in the Sept 2023 PER newsletter.
What would you like to see funded and why?