This funding supports Wellcome grantholders who want to use public insights to develop their research. Engagement helps to build the public's trust in research, and ensure research is valued within society.
The way we fund research is changing to support our new strategy. A simplified set of funding schemes will be open for applications in summer 2021.
We are reviewing our funding approach for this scheme and will provide updates as our strategy develops.
Between £10,000 and £250,000 (depending on your main Wellcome grant)
Funding will end at the same time as your main Wellcome grant
You can apply for this funding if you want to engage the public with research you're doing on your main Wellcome grant.
You must be:
or
In both cases, you must be the lead applicant.
If your main Wellcome grant is one of the following, you should contact us before you apply as there is a different application process:
We encourage applications from researchers at all career stages, although we expect most applicants to have some experience of public engagement.
There are no limits on scope, but your proposal should be aligned to your current research programme and underpinned by a clear rationale.
It should include opportunities for you to:
We will review:
If you propose to work on sensitive topics or with vulnerable groups, you must explain how you will:
See the most common areas in which applications to this scheme could be improved in Research Enrichment – Public Engagement: ten common pitfalls [PDF 273KB].
You can’t apply if your main Wellcome grant is one of the following:
You can’t apply if your main Wellcome grant is based at the University of Oxford or a Scottish university. We’re running a funding pilot with these universities – in place of this scheme – and you should contact them directly for more information:
You can't apply to carry out activities that involve the transfer of grant funds into mainland China.
You can ask for Research Enrichment – Public Engagement funding of between £10,000 and £250,000.
We suggest you think about a proposal valued at around 5% of your total research grant, but we are flexible as long as you are able to justify the amount you ask for, based on:
Funds can be used for a range of costs such as:
We will provide costs for staff who will coordinate and support the development of your public engagement programme. You can ask for these costs if:
We don't cover the salaries of staff already funded by their organisation.
We will provide travel costs for you to:
You can also ask for costs to cover caring responsibilities if you or any staff employed on your grant attend a conference. This includes childcare and any other caring responsibility you have, provided:
You can ask for up to £1,000 per person for each conference.
This is a new policy. It applies to all types of travel costs Wellcome provides.
You can ask for:
We won't pay for the core infrastructure that your host organisation should provide, unless you're eligible to ask for these costs under our overheads policy. Examples of these costs include:
See our carbon offset policy for travel for information on what you and your organisation need to do.
We will provide costs for enhanced DBS checks (formerly Criminal Records Bureau checks) for applications in the UK. If you are a scientist, these are free if you register to be a Science and Engineering Ambassador.
You can't use Research Enrichment – Public Engagement funding for:
We don't fund overheads.
You must submit your application through the Wellcome Trust Grant Tracker (WTGT).
Please read our guidance notes:
You should discuss your proposal with the public engagement team at your organisation before you apply. We also recommend you draw on the expertise of colleagues with public engagement experience.
Complete your application on Grant Tracker.
View the Sample full application form for Research Enrichment [PDF 115KB].
You can also apply for enrichment funding for diversity and inclusion. You’ll need to complete a separate application form for each type of funding. Applications will be assessed separately.
You can apply at any time from your award date, but you need to be able complete your programme of activities by the end date of your main Wellcome grant.
You can begin your application for Research Enrichment funding at any time while you’re applying for your main Wellcome grant.
You should only submit your Research Enrichment application when you’ve been informed that your main Wellcome grant has been awarded.
Wellcome staff will assess your application. External peer review will be used for applications over £100,000.
We aim to give you a decision and any feedback within ten weeks of the application deadline. There are no interviews.
If you are disabled or have a long-term health condition, we can support you with the application process.
What you need to know if you're a grant applicant or grantholder.
Log in to our online grants system (Grant Tracker). You can save your application and return to it any time.
You must submit your application by 17:00 (GMT/BST) on the deadline day. We don’t accept late applications.
Open to new applications
Open to new applications
Open to new applications
Contact our information officers if you have a question about funding.
Find out about some of the people and projects we've funded for this scheme.