Our final Local Authority Research Practitioner funding call update

13 February 2025

We are delighted to confirm that in our final Local Authority Research Practitioner (LARP) funding call we have offered funding for 14 LARPs.

The final 14 local authorities to receive LARP funding are: Bexley Council, Bury Borough Council. Derby City Council, Dudley Borough Council, Harrow Council, Herefordshire Council, Hull City Council, Isles of Scilly Council, Kingston upon Thames Council, Merton Council, Newham Council, Salford City Council, Stockton on Tees Borough Council, and Wokingham Borough Council. 

One of our key objectives is to give local authorities the resource they need to build skills and find opportunities for public health research. This enables a move towards a culture of public health decision-making informed by research.

Since we launched on 1 October 2023, we have awarded 90 local authorities with funding for a LARP role, of which 88 have accepted. This offer of funding covers 95 local authorities across England, including joint applications/public health teams.

LARPs contribute in various ways to increasing research capacity and capability in local authorities. In doing so they enable a move towards a culture of decision-making whereby decisions on public health policy and interventions are routinely informed by research.

Mac Emmerson, Research Programme Manager who facilitates the LARP Network said: “We have held 5 funding calls since we launched, and in this time the LARP Network has continued to grow and establish itself as a very active community, allowing our LARPs a space to share ideas, discuss problems and collectively find solutions. We are excited to see how this work develops as more LARPs join us from this final funding call.

“The LARP Network is now fully established, with regular drop-ins, interest groups and a monthly e-bulletin. The network will continue to grow over the coming year and continue to meet regionally and nationally.” 

Find out more about our LARPs.