Engaging people

Everyone’s experience of health matters. We engage with people across the world to better understand and share different experiences of health, science and social change. We do this by:

• creating opportunities for people to explore what they think and feel about health, science and social change
• building partnerships in the creative and cultural sectors to share insights into health and science in ways that are meaningful and accessible to all
• working with people and communities who understand health challenges through lived experience

We also encourage researchers applying for funding to include in their proposals a plan for engaging with stakeholders such as the public, policy makers or relevant communities. Read our guide to engaged research approaches.

Understanding public trust in science

We support projects to explore how people think and feel about health and science, including how trustworthy science is, to inform our work.

Wellcome Global Monitor is the world’s largest study into how people think and feel about science and health challenges. We survey adults across 140 countries every two to three years and publish the findings to provide diverse data on the experiences of the public and what influences their perceptions of science, healthcare systems and government.

Harnessing the power of culture and creativity to drive change

We work with the cultural and creative sectors to put urgent health challenges high on the public agenda.

Canopy is an art and science festival and network aiming to bring health to the heart of climate action. It launched in 2024 alongside the first ever health theme at Climate Week NYC. The aim was to embrace culture as a means to change attitudes and policies on climate and health, share knowledge and create conversations and connections.

Engaging expertise in communities for effective, equitable outcomes

We work to ensure that a broad a range of people are leading, participating in and benefiting from science. The perspectives of the communities most affected by health challenges inform what we do and how we do it. When research is led from and done within affected communities it is directly informed by people’s needs and the outputs are more trusted and accessible. This gives research insights a head start towards being implemented and benefiting those whose health has most to gain.

We work with partners across the world, including researchers, community organisers and creative and cultural organisations.

For example, we are currently working with entertainment partners OKRE and Climate Spring to expand people’s understanding of climate and health.

We mainly work through strategic partnerships and projects. If you're interested in working with us – especially on creative and cultural initiatives relating to mental health, climate and health, or trust in science – please get in touch by emailing engagement@wellcome.org.

There are currently no funding schemes for engagement activities, although we sometimes invite specific organisations to apply for discretionary awards.