Attending the Public Engagement and Research Impact workshop in January 2026 gives you access to the seed funding programme, designed to provide Early Career Researchers (ECRs) with an opportunity to further their research engagement and impact skills, and enhance their research portfolio. 

Career stage
Early-career 

Scheme Opens
Monday 20th April 2026, 09:00 GMT

Duration of award
6 months 

Funding status
Now open for applications 

Deadline
Monday 11th May 2026, 17:00 GMT 

Contact
SRAEHL Team at [email protected] 

About the Programme

The SRAEHL Emerging Research Leaders seed fund is designed to help early career researchers put their new skills into practice, supporting creative, ambitious engagement activities that extend the reach and influence of their research. 
 
It invites attendees of the Public Engagement and Research Impact workshop in January 2026 to submit proposals for unique and innovative public engagement and research impact activities, either as joint collaborations or individual efforts. 

Applicants are encouraged to propose interdisciplinary and collaborative activities, especially those that involve partnerships with non-HEI (Higher Education Institutions) organisations such as Independent Research Organisations (IROs), charities, and industry. We also welcome collaborations with independent researchers outside of HEIs. 

All activities must be completed, and reports submitted, within 6 months of the award.  

Aims

The awards are specifically designed to provide ECRs, particularly those with limited experience in public engagement activities, an opportunity to enhance their research portfolio. 

These awards are intentionally flexible, responding to the needs of members of the SRAEHL Emerging Research Leaders programme, and provide an opportunity to develop new partnerships and explore innovative, novel concepts. 
 

Grant Amount

Proposals can request up to £1,000 of funding. These awards are intended to cover the direct costs associated with delivering Public Engagement and Research Impact activities. Eligible project costs may include, but are not limited to, the following categories:
 

• Venue hire for workshops, roundtables, co‑creation sessions, or community events  
• Refreshments for participants (where appropriate for engagement)  
• Participant expenses, such as travel costs for community partners  
• Facilitation fees for external collaborators, artists, or practitioners  
• Materials and supplies for hands‑on or creative engagement sessions (e.g., craft materials, exhibition supplies, flipcharts) 
• Videography or photography services for recording activities  
• Graphic design for posters, infographics, or engagement materials 
• Small incentives for participants, such as vouchers (within institutional guidelines) 
• Sandpits or brainstorming sessions to shape new collaborative ideas 

We anticipate being able to award between 2 and 3 grants.  

Eligibility

The funding is open to: 

• Members of the SRAEHL Emerging Research programme who have attended the Public Engagement and Research Impact workshop in January 2026. 
• We welcome collaborative proposals, but all applicants need to meet the eligibility condition above.  

Eligible researchers must:  

• produce an end of project report 3 months after the project end date. 

Applications

Applications will be assessed by the SRAEHL Capacity Lead and Alliance Manager. 

Applications will undergo a two-stage review process: 

1. Eligibility Check: The Alliance Manager will conduct an initial eligibility check to ensure the applications meet the required criteria. 
2. Assessment: Eligible applications will then be reviewed by the SRAEHL Capacity Lead and Alliance manager. 

Assessment process will consider the quality of proposal, plan of work, and impact capture. We would encourage all applicants to reflect on their learning from the workshop, particularly the logic modelling, in preparing their applications.   

Funding Guidance 

Please read the seed fund guidance carefully to support you in submitting an application.