The Activate Fund is a pilot project exploring how best we can support Fellows’ UK impact. In the past, our financial support for Fellows focused mainly on their research phase and especially their global travels. However, extensive consultation with Fellows has indicated that the post-research phase would benefit from financial assistance too.

At the moment, when Fellows have completed their researches and are ready to share their knowledge and turn their ideas into action in the UK, they are offered help in a range of ways – to distil their findings and plans, write an effective Report, establish a project or campaign and reach influencers and adopters. It is becoming clear that, in some cases, additional funds to disseminate and implement new ideas and programmes could be transformational.

The Activate Fund has been developed to explore this financial need. It was designed in consultation with Fellows and is being evaluated throughout a three-year pilot phase. At the end of this period, we hope to understand the best way in which additional funds can support Fellows’ UK work. We can then create a permanent fund to achieve this.

Currently the Fund offers one-off grants to Fellows within a set period after their research phase. These must be used for UK not overseas activity. All eligible Fellows are contacted when it opens for applications.

In 2020, the first round of Activate grants awarded £101,000 to seven Fellows for projects ranging from rural care services to ocean pollution. In 2021, the second round awarded just over £524,000 to 21 Fellows for projects ranging from young people’s wellbeing to sustainable food. In 2022, the third round awarded £590,688 to 22 Fellows for projects ranging from neonatal care to support for migrants. We are now in the process of evaluating the Fund.