Award description

Overview and context 

Public Health Grassroots Awards are for individuals working in Public Health or a role tackling the wider determinants of health. 

The Awards aim is to stimulate interest and activity in public health research outside of the NHS, among professionals who might not traditionally have access to such opportunities. Through the award they can learn more about research, build useful research skills and contribute to evidence informed decision making. The Awards also help people understand what support is available from the NIHR and foster relationships with others across the country working in research.  

Individuals can apply for a Public Health Grassroots Award of up to £5000 to be used flexibly and tailored to their needs. Applicants do not need to have had any previous research experience, and for some will be the first step in their research journey. The award support activities to facilitate personal and professional development, whilst contributing to the efforts of local authorities and VCSEs to become more research active. 

Public Health Grassroots awardees will have the opportunity to connect with other SCPH funded local authority roles; Local Authority Research Practitioners (LARPs) and Public Health Engagement Leads (PHELs), Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs) and individuals undertaking NIHR Fellowships. They will also benefit from SCPH bespoke training and development and national networking activities. 

There is a Public Health Grassroots Webinar to support applications. 

Outcomes  

Following completion of a Public Health Grassroots Award, the awardee will be able to show evidence that they have achieved at least three of the following outcomes: 

• Completed the planned activities proposed within the application

• Developed new or enhanced research knowledge, skills and experience

• Developed or strengthened relationships and networks. This may include relationships and networks with local authorities, voluntary organisations, academia, NIHR and the SCPH

• Increased understanding of the NIHR and the infrastructure available to support colleagues working in public health and those working to tackle the wider determinants of health

• Increased understanding of public and community involvement and engagement in public health research

• Developed skills in inclusive research design

• Considered how the award has informed their plans for future career development and the next steps in their research journey

• Evidence of the above will be sought through a short Public Health Grassroots Awards final report

Eligibility 

The eligibility criteria for applicants are detailed below. 

1. Work in Public Health or a role tackling the wider determinants of health  

2. Employed by either: 

   1. A local authority in England, including NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs), providing the individual’s post is not directly funded by the HDRC or 

   2. A non-NHS provider in England, commissioned by a Local Authority to deliver a public health service or function or 

   3. A Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) in England who are either commissioned by a local authority, or receives a grant from a local authority to deliver a public health service or function 

3. Little or no previous experience in research

4. Degree in any subject or equivalent experience required for their role

5. Individuals who hold a postgraduate qualification (level 7 and above, for example, diploma, certificate or masters), it must be unrelated to health and social care, and not relevant to their current role

6. Propose a short-term personal development plan (typically 3-6 months) 

7. Propose a plan that can be achieved within the £5000 funding envelope. If the plan exceeds this amount, it must be clear, within the application, which specific elements the Public Health Grassroots Award will cover

Individuals can choose to make a joint application with a colleague in their organisation, if they have similar levels of experience, areas of interest and learning needs. Any joint plan must be achieved within the £5000 funding envelope.

A Public Health Grassroots Award cannot be undertaken at the same time as another NIHR career development award or SCPH funded role.

Previous awardees

In previous rounds of the Public Health Grassroots Awards, awardees came from a variety of roles, and examples of these are listed below. This list is not exhaustive and can be at any level, as emphasis is placed on individuals in the early stages of their research journey. 

• Public Health Programme Manager

• Chief Operating Officer (VCSE) 

• Public Health Research Officer working within the council and museum trust

• Curriculum Quality Lead 

• Business Development Manager (VCSE) 

• Education and Health Manager (VCSE) 

• Data and Impact Officer 

• Community Engagement Officer 

• Senior Intelligence Specialist 

• Food Insecurity Partnership Officer 

• Performance Improvement Analyst 

• Policy Officer 

• Health and Wellbeing Advisor  

Types of activities that can be supported  

The aim of the award is to stimulate interest and activity in public health research outside of the NHS, supporting individuals in the earlier stages of their research journey. Research experience will vary between applicants and therefore individual needs will differ. The award is designed to allow individuals to create a bespoke plan to achieve their desired outcome. Examples of activities and costs that may be included (but not limited to) within a plan are detailed below. 

• Salary support that would allow the applicants employer to ‘release’ them to undertake the proposed development activities 

• Short placement with a research team undertaking public health research. This could include: 

  • A team within the applicants employing organisation  

  • A team in a local authority (including HDRCs)  

  • An academic team 

  • A team based within the NIHR, working with local authorities (e.g. Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Teams (PHIRST) 

• Funding for specific training courses (based on individual need and scope of the award) to develop research skills and experience 

• Funding for training or development of skills to undertake work with people and communities 

• Funding for training or development of skills in inclusive research design 

• Funding to attend any relevant UK conferences  

• Time with a mentor or coach 

• Supplementary resource including childcare, accessibility support (e.g., British Sign Language), or other needs that might otherwise prevent access to the Grassroots Award. This can be included in the award and claimed through the employing organisation expenses process

• Travel, accommodation and subsistence required to undertake the development activities

Training activities that enable an applicant's colleagues to participate, can be included within the award plan as it supports the development of research capacity and capability across the organisation. This comes with an understanding that the employing organisation is responsible for the cost associated with the training and releasing colleagues from their day-to-day role to participate in such activities. 

Our Training and Development pages provide a gateway to over 100 resources and training courses. You can also find information on upcoming training webinars and events. We encourage all successful awardees to undertake the free SCPH public and community involvement and engagement training. 

Previous successful activities

In previous rounds, funding was used in a variety of ways, with some examples listed below. 

To secure time outside of their day-to-day role:  

• to cover the cost of one module on the Master of Public Health Course, to understand implementation science and apply some of its methodologies to work in their current role

• to fund 3-months out of a 6-month academic placement on an NIHR funded project, refining topic guides and conducting interviews 

• to fund a 3-month placement academic placement, assisting with the analysis of quantitative data, including survey responses and epidemiological data 

Training; including: 

• Introduction to qualitative research 

• Introduction to qualitative interviewing 

• Reporting qualitative data 

• AI assisted qualitative analysis 

• NHS: Working with People and Communities to Improve Health Outcomes

• Public Involvement in Research

• Research methods: A Practical Guide to Peer and Community Research 

• Study Design for Health Research 

• Introduction to research methods 

• Attendance at our training webinars 

To cover travel costs 

Please note that costs relating to any equipment or software related to the activities included as part of the award application are outside of scope and should not be included as part of the award breakdown costs. 

Benefits for the Public Health Grassroots Awardee and their employer 

• Builds long-term, stronger partnerships to support public health research locally and across England, with the potential to be self-sustaining beyond the lifetime of the funding

• Develops an understanding of NIHR infrastructure and the available opportunities for future progression at the end of the funding period

• Allows the identification and development of partnerships and relationships to help support future development needs (e.g. to enable application to further career development opportunities and identify a suitable supervisor)

• Demonstrates the role of the organisation in championing a research culture and in supporting the development of capacity and capability for research

• Facilitates the individual’s personal development, enhancing skills, knowledge and experience which is retained within the organisation

• Supports the shaping of SCPH plans, ensuring future offerings to local authorities are appropriate, impactful, and accessible to colleagues at various stages in research

• Facilitates access to the support available from the SCPH

Expectations of the employer  

The employing organisation will be expected to fully support the individual to undertake the activities agreed and have a willingness to flex to enable involvement in the activities required to help maximise the benefits to the individual, organisation, and the wider research system. 

Selection criteria for shortlisted applications 

All applications are screened for eligibility. 

Eligible applications are scored against the selection criteria by at least 2 panellists against a standardised process. 

Panellists include members of the SCPH core team, external partners and public contributors from the SCPH Public and Community Partnerships Advisory Board. 

There is a maximum of one award per organisation per round. If two or more fundable applications are received from one organisation, the panel will consider the following factors: 

1. Strength of application (application score) 

2. The extent to which the awardee would be eligible to apply for other NIHR career development opportunities. This will ensure awards provide opportunities where they may not otherwise be available

3. History of previous NIHR research career development awards  

4. The extent to which the award will actively address and mitigate challenges faced in becoming research active

5. The potential for the award to impact on research capacity and capability more widely than the individual (e.g. via a joint application or across the organisation or external networks) 

Glossary 

HDRCs - Health Determinants Research Collaborations 

NIHR funding, awarded to a local authority to boost research capacity and capability and to embed a culture of always using evidence when making decisions.  

LARP - Local Authority Research Practitioner 

A LARP is employed by a local authority in England. They work with their councils to improve their ability to do research and use it effectively. They are part-funded (50%) by the NIHR RSS Specialist Centre for Public Health (Newcastle University and Partners). 

NIHR - National Institute for Health and Care Research 

The NIHR fund, enable and deliver world-leading health and social care research that improves people’s health and wellbeing, and promotes economic growth. 

PHEL - Public Health Engagement Lead 

PHELs are employed by a local authority in England and are funded by the NIHR RSS Specialist Centre for Public Health (Newcastle University and Partners). Their role is to advocate for research and develop partnership work to build stronger links with local government and appropriate expertise and infrastructure. 

SCPH - Specialist Centre for Public Health

Our national centre provides support for public health research outside the NHS, aiming to support the creation of high-quality research evidence that is needed to inform policy and practice to improve public health and reduce inequalities. 

VCSE - Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise