This short-term, part-time funding from NIHR RSS is focused on equipping individuals in public health with the research skills necessary to enhance their impact and contribute to evidence-based practices, with support from local and national infrastructure.

There are three key priorities of the award:

• Encouraging Research Engagement – the award aims to stimulate interest and activity in public health research among professionals who might not traditionally have access to such opportunities. Applicants do not need to have had any previous research experience, and for some this will be the first step in their research journey.

• Inclusive Research Engagement – acknowledging that barriers to being research active vary, the award is designed to be open to everyone, actively addressing and mitigating challenges some may face in becoming research active. The award can be used to provide supplementary resources for childcare, accessibility support (e.g. British Sign Language), or other needs that might otherwise prevent professionals from accessing the Public Health Grassroots Award support.

• Flexibility – recognising the diverse demands on awardees’ time, the funding is structured to be adaptable and part-time, ensuring that it aligns with each awardee’s professional and personal commitments and needs.

This funding call is open to colleagues who have a contract of employment with a:

• Local authority in England – including NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs), provided the applicant’s post is not directly funded by the HDRC
• Non-NHS provider, commissioned by a local authority to deliver a public health service or function
• Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) in England that receive a grant or are commissioned to deliver public health services.

Those in the devolved nations or the NHS should speak with relevant funders to explore similar opportunities.

Applications should be submitted at an individual level and are open to existing employees in the organisations described above.

An information webinar will be held on Tuesday 13 May, 2pm-3pm to give an an overview of the Specialist Centre for Public Health delivered by Newcastle University and Partners, information about the funding call and answer questions.

The closing date for applications is Thursday 19 June 2025.

Decisions will be announced on Wednesday 9 July 2025.

The funding will commence by 30 September 2025.

For full details and to apply, visit the NIHR RSS Public Health Grassroots Funding webpage here.