Public and community partnerships funding award 

Opportunity for local authorities in England to apply for up to £10,000 to explore new or improved ways of involving diverse people and communities in public health research.

This call is open to colleagues in local authorities in England.  

NIHR Health Determinant Research Collaborations are not eligible to apply but can be listed as a supporting partner. Those in the devolved nations should speak with relevant funders to explore similar opportunities. 

 Funded projects will explore new or improved ways that local authorities can involve people and communities in public health research conducted outside the NHS.  

The aim is to increase the voice and representation of diverse people and communities in public health research. The award will generate evidence and insight that can be shared with other local authorities to strengthen public and community involvement in public health research. 

These awards are not intended to fund public health research or evaluation projects. 

Examples of projects that could be funded include:  

• Developing new ways to involve residents and community groups who are most affected by health inequalities but are currently under-represented in public health research. This could include a wide range of residents and groups such as rural or coastal communities, ethnic minorities or LGBTQ+ communities

• Building new partnerships with voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations, such as local infrastructure organisations (LIO), local voluntary groups, charities and community interest companies to support public health research.

• Starting conversations with local people and groups to help shape new ways of involving them in public health research.

• Looking at asset-based approaches to PCP, which focus on the strengths and resources within communities that enable them to be involved in public health research

• Exploring how to use a local authority's own workforce or services to help involve diverse people and communities in public health research. This could include staff working groups or local authority services and locations such as schools, libraries, housing teams or other customer service points

• Creating better ways for people and communities to inform public health research priorities, ensuring their voices guide what matters most

• Creating, offering, and delivering training and support to give people and communities the knowledge and confidence to take part in public health research

We encourage projects to explore different ways of engaging with people and communities. This could include working with artists or craftspeople, partnering with community champions or faith leaders, local business or engaging with people in new places or at different times of day.  

Funding and costs

You can apply for up to £10,000. Costs for VCSE or LIO organisations involved in the project may include 10% overheads within the total available budget. This fund will not cover capital costs (e.g. buildings or equipment).   

Timescale

The project duration should be between 12 and 18 months.  

PCP terminology 

The consensus definition of research in a local authority setting forms the basis for this call.  

SCPH uses the term public and community partnerships (PCP) to describe how local authorities involve and engage with people and communities in public health research. It will be useful to refer to the NIHR definitions of involvement, engagement and participation when writing your application.  

Local authorities may describe PCP differently, including:  

• Public involvement and community engagement (PICE) 

• Co-production  

• Co-design 

• Community researchers 

• Participatory research  

• Peer research 

Our definition of public health encompasses a broad range of social, economic and environmental factors than can influence health outcomes and health inequalities. These are often referred to as 'wider determinants of health.' Examples include housing, employment, education, transport and the built environment. 

Impact 

Awardees will be expected to complete a final brief report to help SCPH understand what worked and what impact their project had. SCPH will help share this learning with other local authorities.  

We will provide a brief report template to collect information on:  

• Basic monitoring information including anonymous demographic data about the people involved in your project. 

• Information on what worked, what difficulties projects encountered and if there is anything that could be done differently next time.  

• A breakdown of how the funding was spent.  

In addition, SCPH may work with you to create case studies to share evidence and insight with other local authorities. This may involve online interviews.  

In 2027, SCPH will host a learning and celebration event to which all awardees will be invited. Support and resources will be provided to enable awardees to take part in this event. 

We expect evaluation activities to take the project/partnership approximately 2 to 3 days' worth of time over the project lifetime.  

PCP principles 

SCPH worked with a PCP co-development group in early 2025 to develop a set of PCP principles for meaningful public and community involvement in local authority public health research. Projects funded through this award will help test these principles in practice. SCPH will support you to explore how well they work and whether we should develop a PCP framework for local authority public health research. 

In the application form (Q4.4) you will be asked to choose a minimum of 1 PCP principles that your project will test. 

Read some examples of how different local authorities are approaching PCP activities for public health research. 

Eligibility 

• The lead applicant must be a local authority, and it will receive and manage the funding. Each local authority should only submit one application

• You can include up to 2 partner organisations such as from the VCSE, LIO, or faith sectors. These partners don’t need to be registered charities

• Partner organisations are optional. Local authorities can deliver a project using their own workforce, or services such as libraries, housing teams or council offices

• The local authority must have a mechanism to share funds with any project partners, as outlined in the cost breakdown

• All projects must take place in England

Eligible expenditure   

You can include costs that directly support your project, such as:  

• Staff salaries 

• Venue hire, materials and consumables 

• Expenses for contributors (NIHR payment guidance should be followed) 

• Accessibility costs such as interpreters, alternative formats, accessibility-related transport, personal assistant costs, creche/care costs 

• Other costs, where these are clearly linked to the project 

Selection criteria   

All shortlisted applications will be scored by 2 reviewers, following a standardised process. 

SCPH recommend that applicants refer to the PCP award selection criteria to help guide their application. 

Applying  

SCPH offer a supportive application process and encourage potential applicants to discuss their possible project ideas with them. You can book a 45-minute one-to-one session with an SCPH team member for advice on developing your proposal and budget. These sessions are available on 20, 27, and 28 October and 3 November.   

Book a slot 

You can also contact Kasia Kurowska, PCP Manager, for guidance ahead of submitting your application at: NIHR.RSS.PublicHealth@newcastle.ac.uk 

Download, complete and submit the application form via email to NIHR.RSS.PublicHealth@newcastle.ac.uk before 5pm on Friday 5 December.  

Local authorities awarded PCP funding are subject to NIHR Standard Award Terms and Conditions, where relevant. A specific PCP award contract will be provided that may replace some of those terms. 

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

Application timeline 

• Opening date for applications: Monday 29 September 

• Application process and support webinar: Thursday 9 October 10 to 11am 

• One-to-one workshops: 20 October to 3 November 

• Closing date for applications: 5pm on Friday 5 December 

• Panel meeting dates: Monday 9 February 2026 

• Decisions announced: Friday 20 February 2026 

• Projects must start between 1 April and 30 June 2026