Continuing The Young Foundation’s partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), we are proud to announce Phase 2 of The Community Knowledge Fund, supporting 12 grassroots community groups and organisations to ‘turn great ideas into action’ with grants worth £50k to £100k
Embracing knowledge creation ‘by everyone, for everyone’, this Fund launched in February, when grants totalling £240,000 were awarded to 24 organisations and community groups across the UK as part of an initial development phase.
Putting community at the heart of research
Over the next 12 months, the 12 organisations progressing to Phase 2 of the programme will refine, further test, and start to grow their community research and innovation projects.
Building on their learning and insights from the development phase, grantees will participate in a co-created learning and support programme, delivered by The Young Foundation. This will help them implement and refine their ideas, and further build their confidence and capabilities to experiment with new ways of putting community at the heart of research and innovation.
Among the 12 projects progressing with the Community Knowledge Fund are one focused on understanding the root causes of racism in UK cities; three supporting young people (based in Wales, Manchester, and Devon); a number focused on sustainable living including a community mapping programme, and projects exploring energy consumption, retrofit, agriculture, and clean water; a community health project; work exploring inter-generational dialogue; and research into the impact of living in temporary accommodation.
‘Creativity, growth and impact’
The Fund aims to test innovative methods and approaches for community-led research and knowledge creation. By engaging with groups who have often been left out of formal research practices, The Community Knowledge Fund also aims to help make research and innovation more accessible for diverse and under-represented communities. This aims to shift the way community-led research and innovation is valued, building an increased appetite for it across the wider sector.
The Young Foundation’s Director of Innovation and Practice, Dan Farag, said:
“We are excited to see how new ideas and ways of working with people and communities can unlock creativity, support growth, and drive impact. This work has huge potential to not only put greater value and recognition on the knowledge and wisdom that exists within communities, but also to better understand how the wider research and innovation system can become more inclusive of community knowledge, accelerating the pace of change across the UK.”
Tom Saunders, Head of Public Engagement at UKRI, said:
“This investment by UKRI aims to empower community groups who would not traditionally receive research funding, and to explore innovative ideas and solutions to issues their communities face. These exciting projects address a range of challenges from community resilience to environmental sustainability. I’d like to congratulate all those who have received funding today.”
Phase 2 grantees include: Camden Giving, Centric Lab, Children in Wales, Climate Hebrides, Devon Community Foundation, Generations Working Together, Global Grooves, Homebaked Community Land Trust, JustLife Foundation, Landworkers’ Alliance, MadLab, and Westcountry Rivers Trust.
Further information is available on our Community Knowledge Fund hub
Community Community leadership Environment Families & Youth Health and Wellbeing Housing & regeneration Social innovation Posted on: 4 October 2023