Get Involved Awards 2022

Do you have a local issue that needs researching? Have you got a problem in your community that you want to resolve, or an idea to help the city? You can get involved in community research with us!

Community groups, charities and social enterprises can apply to work with University of Plymouth’s researchers, to better understand a problem in their local area and to gain valuable insights. By developing new projects, we aim to build a network of community groups working with academics to exchange ideas and respond to real community challenges for our city in 2022.

Up to five selected projects will receive £6,000-£8,000 each paid to their research team to fund researcher and project costs.

Examples of past award-winning community research projects include the Spinal Injuries Association, Plymouth District Branch - ‘No less a quality of life’ – An evaluation of the Community Peer Support Service for people with spinal cord injury. Another former Award winner are the Alzheimer’s Society Plymouth and District branch with ‘Training for GPs in early Dementia awareness’. We also welcome applications from social enterprises wanting to address problems with innovation and technology.

What is the process?

The Get Involved Awards application process and project will be a true partnership between community groups and researchers. A simple, five step process to capture the problem or challenge, match researchers to organisations and enable co-creation of research in the city by making funding awards.

Applicants and award winners will be supported throughout the process by the University of Plymouth Public Engagement Team.

Why get involved?

The Get Involved Awards are a genuine opportunity for local community groups to work with Plymouth researchers to co-design project ideas and benefit from the resultant research that addresses issues and or opportunities effecting them.

Objectives of the Awards are to:

• Help communities solve problems
• To create partnerships between researchers and communities

• Environment
• Marine
• Arts and heritage
• Health and well being

All community groups will be matched with academic researchers and receive facilitation support from our team throughout the project. Community organisations can better evidence ways of working, gain new skills in research and analysis and use the evidence to strengthen future funding applications.

The successful Get Involved Awards winners and their completed research projects will be presented as part of a celebration event in December 2022. We look forward to receiving your Expression of interest

The Expression of Interest

We are inviting Expressions of Interest to solve a problem or address an issue to include the following:

• Tell us about your community group, charity, or social enterprise.
• Tell us the theme your application relates to.
  
• In no more than 100 words, what research would help your organisation?
  
• In no more than 50 words, how do you think this research will benefit the wider community?
  

Download Expression of Interest

Call for Expressions of Interest opens: 2nd February 2022

Closing date for Expressions of Interest: 23rd February 2022

If you would like any further details on the Get Involved Awards or want to chat it over, please email getinvolvedawards@plymouth.ac.uk