UK Research and Innovation are funding a new programme – Funding for change: investing in collaboration with communities. They will invest £4.4 million over the next four years in the creation of a 
series of Community Research Networks across the UK. This will form part of its goal to deliver economic, social, and cultural benefits from research and innovation to all UK citizens.
The funding will help local areas by investing in organisations which can support the sustainable and equitable involvement of communities in research. Community organisations, charities and local authorities, alongside research organisations, play a crucial role in the production, interpretation and use of research. This investment will give these organisations the capacity to collaborate effectively, unlocking the potential of community-centred research and research engagement approaches.
This is phase one of a two phase competition:
- Community Research Networks – Expression of interest (EOI) (this competition)
- Community Research Networks – Implementation
Funding at this EOI phase will support initial collaborations in building relationships and to develop plans for the implementation phase. Only successful applicants at the EOI phase will be invited to apply for the implementation phase in April 2023.
Funding for change: investing in collaboration with communities
Deadline: 14 September 2022, 11am