Collaborative inquiry

Research Funding Call for Disability Related Small-Scale Research and Innovation Projects

++ PLEASE NOTE, APPLICANTS MUST BE EITHER A DPO OR LEAD BY A MEMBER OF STAFF OR A PGR, UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD ++

The Wellcome Trust Anti-Ableist Research Cultures Project (WAARC) - in collaboration with the Participatory Research Network - are seeking applications for small-scale/pump-priming research or innovation projects.

Projects must focus on promoting the inclusion of disabled people in or within the University of Sheffield and may reflect or build on some of the aims of the WAARC project included; promoting inclusive recruitment; enhancing flexible working; promoting positive research environment and promoting anti-ableist university cultures. More details can be found at our project website:

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ihuman/waarc

We would expect to receive project applications with total costs for up to a maximum of £10,000 in total (staff and non-staff costs) where up to £5000 would be costed to meet disability access and consultancy fees of disabled people’s organisations .

Project or Innovation Requirements

Each project must be participatory and work in collaboration with a Disabled People’s Organisation. It also must be able to be completed within 11 months. The focus of the research or innovation needs to be on disability in research or the university. We understand participatory research to be doing research with communities, rather than on them.

Who can apply?

Any member of academic or professional services staff or postgraduate research student who intends to still be at the university up until December 2025.

How to Apply

There are two ways to apply:

Option 1: For postgraduate researchers or staff who do already have links with a Disabled People’s Organisation: Complete and submit a full proposal form by Friday 13th December 2024, via https://forms.gle/wMYKdBjTXbvFKY958 (google form) or email the word version of the form to prn@sheffield.ac.uk.

Option 2: For postgraduate researchers or staff who do not already have links with a Disabled People’s Organisation: Complete and submit the expression of interest form by Friday 1st November 2024, via https://forms.gle/BXac9VMTfmNN6pMfA (google form) or email the word version of the form to prn@sheffield.ac.uk. Interested Disabled People’s Organisations will also be expressing interest in this time period. We will seek to match interested postgraduate researchers and staff with Disabled People’s Organisations in early November, to enable you to create a full proposal to submit by Friday 13th December 2024. 

When will the research take place?

Research will take place from February-December 2025.

Further Information

If you are interested and would like to ask any questions, please email prn@sheffield.ac.uk for an invite to a Google meet on Wednesday 25th September (12:30-2pm) or Thursday 10th October 2024 (3-4:30pm). There is also more information in the ‘Further Questions’ document.

Closing Date for Full Proposal Applications: Friday 13th December 2024, via google form https://forms.gle/wMYKdBjTXbvFKY958.

Collaboration
Leads: Kirsty Liddiard and Dan Goodley
3.1. Inclusive Research
Problem: A need to promote more inclusive disability research activity at TUOS.
Strategic Plan: The TUOS Participatory Research Network (PRN) will lead and manage an Open Call to all researchers in TUOS seeking to support research projects that put into practice inclusive methods with disabled people and their representative organisations, including a ring-fencing of part of this funding for PGR applicants.
Workplan: We anticipate supporting up to a maximum of six research projects running for six months in our Open Call that seek to put into practice inclusive methods with disabled people and their representative organisations, including a ring-fencing of part of this funding for PGR applicants. Each project will involve the participation of a range of stakeholders who will manage their own ethical applications using the TUOS online ethics application systems supported by their own department’s research hubs.

3.2. Cripping the Concordat
Problem: A disconnect between current commitments around researcher development and the barriers faced by disabled researchers.
Strategic plan: Explore how the Concordat To Support the Career Development of Researchers can more effectively support the needs and research aspirations of disabled researchers. 
Workplan: In-depth thematic analysis of the Concordat supplemented by findings arising for Priority Areas 1 and 2. Secondary data related to Concordat and TUOS documents presented on the university website.

The outputs will include a set of resources and recommendations arising from the open call projects and further guidance on enhancing the Concordat. The evaluation will include an assessment of the outcomes of the open call projects and a framework for assessing the impact of enhanced guidance aligned with the Concordat on disabled researchers. 

Deliverables

• Funding of a number of research projects delivered in collaboration with disabled people’s organisations.
• Cripping the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers.