Funding call 4 - June 2025

Funding opportunity from NIHR RSS Specialist Centre for Public Health - Local Authority Research Practitioners (LARPs) 

Opportunity for local authorities to apply for £52,500* for 24 months (pro rata for reduced timeframes) to appoint a LARP.  

This call is open to colleagues in local authorities in England. Those in the devolved nations should speak with relevant funders to explore similar opportunities.   

NIHR Health Determinant Research Collaborations (HDRCs) and local authorities who have previously submitted a successful LARP application are not eligible for this call.  

LARPs are dedicated to facilitating public health research and supporting the development of research governance systems and processes, enabling public health research to happen within local authorities and the communities they serve.     

Successful local authorities will receive up to £52,500 per award for a period of 24 months (pro rata for reduced timeframes) i.e. the maximum available for 12 months is £26,250. The award will be a contribution (typically 50%) to the salary costs of a LARP and includes the employer's contribution to National Insurance and Superannuation. The local authority, or wider local system, is expected to match fund and provide significant ‘in kind’ support, the employer must be a local authority.  

*In line with inflation, the SCPH Operations Board have approved a 5% increase in the funding we can offer. The maximum funding you can now apply for in this round is £52,500. Match funding is still required. You can still apply for £50,000 if you cannot match to the maximum amount.    

Match funding  

Typically, the LARP award contributes 50% of the LARPs salary. Match funding the other 50% or more is an essential eligibility criterion. In exceptional cases the SCPH will consider providing additional costs where it is clearly demonstrated that a local authority is unable to contribute due to unique circumstances. If you are unable to match fund, you must contact the SCPH to discuss your application before you submit it. We can share examples of how other local authorities have leveraged their match funding.  

On costs   

We strongly recommend consulting with your finance team to calculate the on costs (in addition to salary costs) for the LARP post and include these in your calculations (Q25 on the application form).  

Eligibility  

• Organisation: applications can only be submitted by a local authority and cannot be submitted by an ICB or external organisation. Partner organisations can be listed on the application form in Q21 

• Work pattern: the LARP role must be a minimum of 0.6FTE  

• New and existing staff:  Local authorities can apply for LARP funding to either employ a new member of staff or appoint an existing member of staff where:

  1. • existing work objectives align to those of a LARP  

     • LARP objectives can be incorporated into their role (with some existing responsibilities being shifted elsewhere in the team) 

     • they can undertake the LARP role as a secondment.  

Please provide detail in Q16 on the application form.  

• Single and joint applications: two local authorities can apply together for funding for one LARP. One local authority must employ the LARP and lead on the application. A clear explanation is required as to how the role and objectives would be split and supported.    

Selection criteria  

All shortlisted applications are scored against 7 selection criteria, and by 2 panellists against a standardised process.  

Before applying, we recommend reading the LARP role description and selection criteria.

Application timeline:  

• Opening date for submissions: Tuesday 27 May 2025 

• Closing date for submissions: 5pm on Monday 30 June 2025  

• Panel meeting date: Week commencing 24 July 2025  

• Decisions announced: Early August   

• Funding commences:  1 October 2025 – 31 March 2026 date to be agreed between the SCPH (Newcastle University and partners) and the local authority.  

LARP Job descriptions   

Local authorities that are awarded LARP funding are responsible for preparing the job description (JD) and undertaking recruitment. We recommend that while writing a LARP funding application local authorities consider what skills and attributes they would be looking to include in their person specification. This helps local authorities provide specifics within their application answers.  

The JD is not required as part of the LARP funding application process. Successfully awarded authorities must provide their LARP job description to SCPH for review once awarded and before recruitment of the LARP commences. The shared responsibilities outlined below must be included. Our additional suggested responsibilities may also be useful to review.    

Shared responsibilities:  

• actively promote, support and contribute to the activity of the SCPH   

• contribute to the sharing of best practice across local authorities as part of the LARP network   

• link with Public Health Engagement Leads (PHELs)   

• undertake regular reporting to the SCPH (Newcastle University and partners) to support the evaluation of the LARP roles and demonstrate their impact on research capacity and capability in local authorities  

The grading of the post should be determined by the local authority’s own procedures, and you should consider this in your funding request. SCPH can provide JDs from other successful local authorities to aid this process. If you are successfully awarded funding, you will submit claims in six monthly arrears.  

Applying 

SCPH describe this as a supportive application process. We strongly encourage any local authority wishing to apply to contact Mac Emmerson, Research Programme Manager ahead of submitting their application. She can provide advice and guidance to maximise your application. Contact Mac at: NIHR.RSS.PublicHealth@newcastle.ac.uk

The application form is available to download and complete now.  Completed applications can be submitted after the 27 May by emailing the application form to  NIHR.RSS.PublicHealth@newcastle.ac.uk. The deadline for submission is 5pm on Monday 30 June 2025. 

Local authorities awarded LARP funding are subject to NIHR Standard Award Terms and Conditions in so far as they are relevant to LARPs. Local authorities are supplied with a LARP award contract that supersedes some T&Cs where appropriate. 

This funding is provided by the NIHR RSS Specialist Centre for Public Health (SCPH) delivered by Newcastle University and Partners.