£30,000 Wellcome Trust People Awards Funding Available

Monday, 25 July 2011 10:11

Status: Open to applications

Application Deadline: 29th July 2011

Description

Financial assistance is available to support projects, events and initiatives that encourage and support public engagement, debate and learning in the fields of bioscience and history of medicine.

Details

Maximum Value:£ 30,000

Value Notes

The People Awards can fund small and medium sized projects with a total cost of up to £30,000 and maximum duration of three years.

The maximum level of funding for any one project is £30,000.

The Wellcome Trust is an independent medical research-funding charity whose mission is to foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health. Allied to this is a commitment to engage the public with science through a diverse range of activities.

The People Awards are part of the Wellcome Trust's Engaging Science grant programme. The key aim of these awards is to provide support for innovative activities and events whose purpose is to encourage public participation in debates about the social and ethical implications of biomedical research.

The Wellcome Trust will support projects that achieve one or more of the following:

Stimulate interest, excitement and debate about biomedical science.Encourage formal and informal learning about biomedical science.Reach new audiences and continuing to target existing audiences.Examine the social, cultural, historical and ethical impact of biomedical science.Encourage new ways of thinking about biomedical science.Support high quality interdisciplinary practice and collaborative partnerships.Investigate and test new methods of engagement, participation and education.

Latest Information

Forthcoming application deadlines for 2011/12 include:

28 January 2011.29 April 2011.29 July 2011.28 October 2011.27 January 2012.

Decisions will be made approximately three months after the relevant deadline.

Key Criteria

The People Awards are open to a wide range of professionals working in the field of biomedical science, including mediators and practitioners of science communication, science centre and museum staff, artists, educators, health professionals, and academics in bioscience, social science, bioethics and history.

Applicants and target audiences must be based in the UK or Republic of Ireland, although other members of the project team can be based overseas.

Organisers of projects could include, for example:

Museums and other cultural attractions.Arts agencies.Production companies.Schools.Local Education Authorities.Universities and colleges.Youth clubs.Community groups.Research institutes.NHS organisations.Science centres.

Commercial companies are also eligible to apply, providing that they would not otherwise be able to undertake the proposed work and where project outputs would not be considered for commercial funding.

Partnership projects, such as those involving scientists and ethicists or educators and artists, are welcomed.

Assessment criteria include:

The potential of the project to stimulate interest, excitement or debate about biomedical science or the history of medicine.The potential to address social, ethical or cultural issues surrounding biomedical science or the history of medicine.Feasibility of the activity.The relevance or suitability of the activity for the target audience.The impact that the activity will have on the target audience.Originality of the idea.Educational value of the project.The quality of the scientific content and background information.The budget and value for money.Plans for evaluation and dissemination of learning.Justification of expenditure.

Projects are expected to have some biomedical scientific input either through a scientist taking on an advisory role or through direct collaboration.

Eligible Expenditure

Eligible expenditure can include:

Salaries and associated personnel costs directly related to the project.Direct activity and production costs including venue, equipment and materials.Project travel costs, including travel to monitoring meetings at attendance at UK conferences.Project publicity costs.Project administration costs where this is not already covered by other funding.CRB checks.VAT fees where VAT cannot be reclaimed.

Projects could include, for example:

Workshops, events, debates and discussions.Exhibitions and museum outreach.Films, games, websites and cross-platform projects.Performance or theatre projects involving existing work or work that is illustrative.Deliberative or opinion gathering projects.Creation of teaching materials.Projects that utilise the collections of the Wellcome Library and Wellcome Collection at the Science Museum.

Match Funding Restrictions

There are no set match funding requirements

Restrictions

Restrictions include:

Salary costs of staff who are funded by their organisation.Core overheads, e.g. heat, rent.Academic courses or research.Expenses incurred in submitting and application.Retrospective funding or other costs incurred prior to the start date of the project.Projects that solely present scientific findings without addressing the wider relevance of these findings to society and to the interests of the intended audience.Health promotion or campaigning projects.Arts projects for therapeutic purposes.Projects dealing purely with non-biomedical sciences or history of medicine.Applications from employees or Governors of the Wellcome Trust.

Payment Procedure

Applicants who require the release of funds prior to project costs being incurred should be aware that the Trust will not release more than 40% at the start of the project, 40% as an interim payment and the remaining 20% upon completion of the final report and evaluation.

Application Procedure

Applicants are encouraged to apply through an organisation, such as academic institution, charitable body or other non-profit organisation. Where applications are received from individuals or sole traders, they must be able to demonstrate a strong track record in the area of application.

Applications should consist of two signed, hard copies of the application form and a signed statement from the host organisation supporting the application and undertaking to take full responsibility for the management, monitoring and staff employed or involved in activities. An electronic copy of the application form should also be emailed to the Wellcome Trust.

To Apply Visit The Welcome Trust At:

http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Public-engagement/index.htm