Commissioning funds

The Participation Fund is open to anyone who works at a UPEN university member institution. This includes both academics and professional services staff.

Find out if your institution is a UPEN member.

We especially encourage applications from;

• Individuals who are unable to access funding from their own institution (for example but not limited to; HEIF/IAA/PSF) to support participation in UPEN programme activities.   
• Early or mid career researchers.
• Individuals who are based at institutions which are not partners in UPEN Programmes. UPEN Programmes partners are: UCL and the Universities of Birmingham, Cambridge, Durham, Huddersfield, Leeds, Nottingham Trent, Southampton, and Teesside, the Wales Centre for Public Policy at Cardiff University and Insights North East. Other key collaborators include the Institute for Community Studies, the Institute for Government, and Yorkshire Universities.

Applications can be submitted at any time via our Participation Fund application form.

There are two distinct routes to apply: 

• In response to a direct invitation through conversations you’ve had with UPEN Co-Chairs or Programmes colleagues 

• In response to an advertised funding opportunity 

Depending on your application route, applications in response to a direct opportunity will usually be assessed within 15 working days by the UPEN team. If your application is in response to a funding opportunity, details on when you’ll hear back will be in the advert. 

Applications are assessed on the following criteria; 

• Reasonable cost and value for money 

• Clear evidence of links to UPEN Programmes 

• Benefits to either you or your institution 

Your institutional lead must be made aware that you are making this application. If you are unsure who your institutional lead is, look them up here. 

You can apply for up to £5,000 per application to cover any activities which have a clear link to UPEN Programmes work. For example; 

• Travel for in person events
• Accommodation
• Staff time
• Event and conference registration costs (e.g catering, registration, room booking)
• Training course
• Costs associated with hosting an in person event
• Costs associated with outputs such as (non academic) publications or communications materials

Non eligible costs;

• Overheads
• Alcohol
• Costs associated with the UPEN annual conference

We anticipate that most applications to the Participation Fund will be targeted applications resulting from collaborative conversations with UPEN Programmes colleagues. Keep an eye on this page, and our newsletter, for new funding opportunities as they appear.

Please note that the Participation Fund cannot be used to fund attendance at the annual UPEN Conference.

All funding must comply with Research England terms and conditions.

The terms of this scheme will remain under regular review by UPEN’s Programmes Strategy Group to monitor demand, use and impact. We will assess uptake to ensure that a diverse range of applicants, proposals and approaches are supported.  

The Participation Fund offers a total of £250,000 and is time limited from 2025-2028.

Successful applications will have clear links to UPEN Programmes work.

You can find out more about UPEN Programmes by:

• Browsing the UPEN Programmes webpages
• Signing up to our newsletter, the UPEN Update
• Following us on LinkedIn
• Keeping an eye on our funding pages

UPEN Programmes team staff also welcome you getting in touch with them directly to find out what you can be involved in. You can find out about our team on the meet the team page,or email hello@upen.ac.uk.

Read before applying.

Closing Date: 12 August 2026 

Project Duration: Flexible, but all awarded projects expected to be completed by the end of 2026. 

The UPEN Programmes Areas of Research Interest (ARI) team are creating a framework and practical resources to support the lifecycle of ARIs. As part of this work, we want to hear from UPEN members interested in carrying out activity that brings people together to engage with and develop responses to recent ARIs from national, regional, or local government bodies.  

UPEN Members are invited to apply via the Participation Fund for activity that advances this work. Costs could include: 

• Money towards organising and hosting workshops 

• Travel and accommodation costs associated with staff in national, regional or local government bodies to discuss their ARIs 

The ARI team are particularly interested in innovative and creative ways of developing effective responses to ARI questions, including activities that bring together diverse expertise from academic disciplines, industry, and/or community actors. UCL and Liverpool John Moores University have hosted workshops that might serve as inspiration:  

• UCL Policy Impact Unit ‘ARI Live!’   

• LJMU Ofsted ARI writing workshop  

All applications will be assessed after the closing date.   

Successful applicants will be expected to report back to UPEN to share lessons learned as well as materials developed to deliver the activity, which may be incorporated into UPEN’s ARI Framework Resource Bank. 

For more information on this opportunity, please contact Clare Stainthorp, Policy Engagement Coordinator (UK-Wide ARIs) via hello@upen.ac.uk.  

Ready to apply? Complete the form today.

Closing Date: 25 September 2026 (may be extended or taken down early based on demand)  

Project Duration: Flexible, but all awarded projects expected to be completed by 28 February 2027.  

How can universities respond quickly and effectively when government needs academic evidence at pace? 

The UPEN Programmes CONNECT team are inviting applications to lead a mini-learning project exploring what works (and what doesn’t) when responding to rapid response requests for academic evidence and expertise from UK or devolved government at a national level.   

Rather than focusing on a single institution’s experience, we are looking for applications that bring learning from across organisations and/or approaches. This could include identifying successful approaches, common challenges and practical recommendations that help strengthen rapid response capability in academic-policy engagement.  

Funding available for this mini-learning project could be used for: 

• Roundtables and workshops with those who have experience in delivering rapid response activities to the government 

• Desk-based or qualitative interviews across multiple institutions or rapid response functions 

• Other approaches that gather and synthesise shared learning on the topic

Projects should produce a practical write-up of findings, developed in collaboration with the UPEN CONNECT and Communications Team, so insights can be shared with the wider network.  

We are anticipating awarding more than one institution this award. Successful applicants will also take part in regular check-in meetings with other award holders and the UPEN Policy Engagement Coordinator to share progress and identify opportunities for collaboration. 

All applications will be assessed after closing date. 

For more information on this opportunity, please contact Lizzie Hudson, Policy Engagement Coordinator via hello@upen.ac.uk.  

Ready to apply? Complete the form today.

The Innovation Fund supports initiatives that:

• Advance sustainable academic–policy engagement
• Test and scale innovative approaches
• Strengthen collaboration between universities and policy partners
• Generate practical insights and shared learning across the sector.

All projects must be collaborative and include at least one external policy partner, such as a government department, local authority, charity or think tank.

The total fund is worth £550,000.

Individual awards will be worth £10,000 to £50,000

• Match funding is required (cash or in-kind)
• Project durations must be 6 to 18 months

Funding can be used for:

• Staff time
• Project delivery
• Travel and subsistence
• Materials

Applications must be led by a UPEN member organisation, with multiple partners involved. Priority will be given to organisations not currently engaged in UPEN programme activity.

The fund operates a two-stage process:

1. Expression of Interest (EOI) – short initial application
2. Full application (by invitation)

Successful EOIs will be notified by 2 October and invited to submit a full application by 3 November. Final funding decisions will be announced in the week commencing 16 November 2026.

• EOI Opens: 15 July 2026
• EOI Closes: 20 September 2026, 11:59pm
• EOI decisions shared: 2 October 2026
• Successful EOI’s invited to complete full application: By 3 November 2026
• Final funding decisions: Shared week commencing 16 November 2026.

Applicants can submit an Expression of Interest via the online form at any time before 11.59pm, 20 September 2026.

For further information, contact: hello@upen.ac.uk