Social Policy Association Opportunity Grants
Please find information below about the Social Policy Association’s Opportunity Grants programme for Spring 2024.
Deadline for applications: 31 May 2024 (Decisions to be communicated by 21 June.)
As previously, this scheme is designed to enable events promoting social policy by – for example – helping to showcase research, exploring issues in learning and teaching, beginning conversations, making connections between different academic perspectives, and bringing together academics, students, practitioners, service-users, policymakers and others with a stake in social policy. They may be UK-focused, or comparative between different national contexts.[1]
For the Spring 2024 round, the grants will again be split into two tiers:
| Category A: Grants up to £1000 | Category B: Grants up to £5000 |
Splitting them in this way is designed to help maximise the range of events, and – through Category A – to make it easier for smaller, early-stage exploratory projects to take their place alongside those whose scale necessitates a greater level of support (Category B). Each of these can play a differently vital role in forging partnerships, sharing knowledge, setting agendas and bringing together different perspectives. Hence we regard both categories as being of equal value. Category B applications may involve a series of events rather than a single one – or (for example) the establishment and initial activities of a network.
The amount of funds provided under either category will depend on the distribution of applications received. We have allocated £10,000 to be spent on the Spring 2024 programme. We should stress that in either category, the sums of £1000 and £5000 are limits, rather than targets. We welcome applications for sums right across the range, from a few hundred pounds and upwards. And we are keen to fund as many projects (of all sizes) as possible.
[1] Applications from members outside of the UK may (because of the requirements of UK charity law) be required to involve a co-applicant based in the UK.
WHO MAY APPLY?
Any member of the Social Policy Association may apply. You may join the SPA for the purposes of applying. We encourage applications from people not based in universities.
THEMES AND TOPICS
The subject-matter of the programme is open. Events addressing any issue in social policy broadly construed will be considered. However for this round, we have identified four priority areas:
- Participation by early career researchers
- Involvement of the third sector
- Engagement with local public sector organisations
- The teaching of Social Policy, including recruitment to Social Policy programmes
While none of these is a strict requirement, preference may be given to applications which clearly incorporate these aspects. Clearly third and public sector involvement will be more pertinent to some themes and topics than others. We would suggest that all research-related applications would benefit from having reflected on how best to involve ECRs in the events they propose.
APPLICATION AND ASSESSMENT
Applications should consist of a plan for the proposed event of no more than two pages. The plan should include
- The background and rationale for the proposed event
- The content of the event
- Details of planned participants
- Any outputs or follow-on activity
- The costs involved (see below)
Opportunity Grant applications are assessed by members of the SPA executive. We apply these criteria:
- Is this event well-planned and deliverable?
- Is there clear evidence of the need or demand for this event?
- Will this event have lasting or ongoing benefits or outputs?
- Does this event align with the strategic goals of the SPA?
- Does the application offer value for money?
View past examples of successful applications
ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS
Recipients of SPA Opportunity Grants will be expected to
- Publicise their event as widely as possible, including through SPA channels
- Write a short report after the event for the SPA website
- Use this as an opportunity to advertise the SPA to potential new SPA members (including marketing via other channels, distribution of SPA leaflets, use of SPA logo, etc.)
- Make the event as inclusive as possible (attendance need not be limited to SPA members)
- Raise the profile of the SPA to external agencies (government, independent sector, research centres, etc.) in the UK and other countries as appropriate
- Share the outcomes of their event via blogs, podcasts and other appropriate media
For recipients of Category B grants, there are two additional expectations:
- The grant holder is strongly encouraged to provide an article based on their event(s) for the Social Policy Review, or any other of the SPA’s publications.
- The event should be translated into a contribution to the SPA’s annual conference.
Applicants must be members of the Social Policy Association
View reports provided by previous Opportunity Grant holders
WHAT MAY OPPORTUNITY GRANT FUNDING BE SPENT ON?
Typically, Opportunity Grants funding is directed towards items such as venue hire, catering, travel expenses and publicity. Please note that this funding cannot be used for directly hiring staff as the SPA is not in a position to act as employer. (It is however possible for staff employed by other organisations to be covered for any time devoted to supporting an event. Expenses to cover accommodation and travel are always legitimate and expected. In case of any queries regarding appropriate use of funds, please contact the SPA Grants Officer – see below.
PAYMENT
It is expected that the applicant’s host institution will cover the cost of individual items involved in staging the event and will then invoice the Social Policy Association for this amount. If this poses problems in your case, please contact the SPA grants officer prior to application.
Please send your application or any enquiries to the SPA Grants Officer, Gideon Calder, via email. Gideon will be very happy to discuss ideas and give feedback on what may be most suitable for the scheme, as well as receiving applications.