17³Ô¹Ï

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Policy Fund 2024-25

The 17³Ô¹Ï receives quality-related research (QR) funding from Research England and a portion of that can be spent on a Policy Support Fund that supports academics in undertaking research with local, regional, national and international structures.

 

Eligible activity includes:

  • new and extended research activity working in partnership with policymakers
  • activity aimed at improving the dialogue and facilitating the use of existing research and the exchange of knowledge between universities and policymakers
  • activity and training to better equip academics to communicate effectively with policymakers
  • partnerships and collaborations aimed at supporting evidence-based policymaking
  • the exchange of people, for example, staff secondments, contributing towards professional doctorates in policy, joint PhD
  • We consider policy to be wide-ranging: from central and local government policy to organisational and institutional policy.  This includes policy within organisations and groups (e.g., internal changes in protocols or processes) and policy that directly affects community groups and the wider public.


Projects can start now but must be completed and funds must be spent by 30 June 2025. Thereafter, the overrun costs will fall to the applicant’s School.  A short final report on the project will be requested after the end of the project. Further details will be communicated closer to the time.

We will fund a variety of projects up to Â£8,000, and welcome smaller projects.  Requests for larger amounts of funding will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may require additional justification â€“ contact policy@reading.ac.uk in the first instance.

 

Policy Consultant

The University has reached out to several policy consultants who are able to provide one-to-one support for academics and/or research teams.  They are able to:

 

  • Review draft inquiry and consultation submissions and give feedback, either in writing or in a one-to-one session

  • Conduct a mentoring session to help academics prepare for written submissions to consultations and inquiries

  • Conduct a mentoring session to help academics prepare for giving oral evidence at policy influencing events, such as:

  • Select Committee hearings

  • All Party Parliamentary Group meetings

  • Policy roundtables

  • Panel debates

  • Meetings with policy influencing stakeholders (including MPs, peers, Government officials and ministers)

  • Define influencing objectives and policy recommendations

  • Develop key messages and summaries, elevator pitches

  • Build an argument, plan a policy brief, identifying stakeholders and use stakeholder mapping


Standard 1-2-1 sessions are typically one hour, but can be longer depending on the ask.  All requests to work with a Policy Consultant need to be made through the Policy Fund application form. 


Eligibility of applicants

 

  • Applicants of all career stages are welcome to apply.

  • Projects may be led by fixed term research staff with HoS support & and Academic CoI - their contract must last for the duration of the project.

  • We welcome projects that are on the High Priority List for REF2029 Impact Case Studies; however, projects on the Pipeline are welcome to apply for funding too.

 

Application Process

Applicants should complete this MS Form. Once completed, submit the form immediately.  We will acknowledge receipt of all applications. If you have not heard from us within 3 working days of submission, please get in touch. Emails will come from this address: policy@reading.ac.uk.


Proposals will be reviewed by the Impact Team, and evaluated against the following criteria:

  • is this the right type of project, based on the eligible types of activity?
  • Are the proposed activities appropriate?
  • Are the requested costs appropriate – value for money?
  • Is this the right team?
  • Can the activities be delivered within the timeframe (30 June 2025)?
  • Expected outputs, outcomes and impact, including capacity building

Projects with impact potential that sit on the High Priority List - for possible submission as an Impact Case Study - for REF2029 will be prioritised.  We expect to announce decisions within 2 weeks of receiving an application.

Eligible costs

  • Researcher time (e.g. PDRA)
  • CampusJobs
  • Accommodation
  • Networking event costs, e.g. room booking, catering (standard UoR rules apply)


Costs not covered

  • Investigator time - UK and overseas
  • Overheads - UK and overseas
  • Capital expenditure
  • Equipment over £10K
  • Contingency
  • PhD studentships


Please note – due to the short timescales, it is unlikely that we will be able fund activity conducted by an overseas co-applicant organisation.


Travel and Carbon Budgets

Applicants should pay due attention the UoR travel policy when considering travelling for their project. Where possible, and without negatively affecting the project, other modes of contact should be considered.
 

How to Apply

To apply to the Policy Fund 2024-2025, please complete the .

Contact and Further Information

Any queries on this scheme should be addressed to the Impact Team (policy@reading.ac.uk) or your Impact Development Manager.


The Impact Team has also created a new internal Policy SharePoint site for all of your policy needs, found: .