New Seed Funding Opportunity - Building Community Research Partnerships
Do you have ideas about improving health and care in your community?
Would you like to build a partnership that could help shape more inclusive and relevant future research?
The Sussex & Surrey Research Engagement Network (SS REN), in partnership with the Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS), is launching the Building Community Research Partnerships Seed Funding Awards. The programme will support early engagement and partnership-building between researchers, communities and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations.
Research is most effective when it reflects the experiences and needs of the people it aims to benefit. Communities, voluntary organisations and local groups have valuable knowledge and insights, but opportunities to work alongside researchers at an early stage can be limited. These awards create time and space for early conversations, helping partners to build trusted relationships, share perspectives, understand local experiences and needs, and explore opportunities for future collaboration.
Awards of up to £2,000 are available to support community engagement and partnership-building before a research funding application is developed. Activities should have the potential to strengthen relationships, support more inclusive and relevant future research, and increase opportunities for underserved communities to engage with and participate in research. Creative and innovative approaches are welcomed.
Key information
- Up to £2,000 per project
- 7 awards are anticipated across Sussex and Surrey. A second round, with 2 anticipated awards for Kent and Medway, will open in April 2027.
- Applications must be made jointly by at least one community or VCSE organisation and a researcher, research team or research organisation from a different organisation.
- Application deadline for Sussex and Surrey: 12 noon on 27 November 2026
Interested in applying or discussing an idea?
See the guidance, FAQs and application form linked below.Contact Olivia Cottington at SussexREN@bsms.ac.uk if you have questions or would like to discuss your proposal before applying.
Together, we can build trusted partnerships and support future health and care research that is more inclusive, relevant and responsive to the needs of the people and communities it serves.
Building Community Research Partnerships Seed Funding Application Form >
Please ensure that the application is submitted via the Microsoft Form version of the application form. The below word version of the form is for viewing purposes ONLY.
RENSS Seed Funding 2026 – Guidance Document >
RENSS Seed Funding 2026 – FAQs >
RENSS Seed Funding 2026 VIEW ONLY - Application Form >
This programme is funded through the Surrey and Sussex Research Engagement Network (SS REN) and supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.