Scope of applications:
The William Leech Research Fund funds high quality research in the area of Christian social ethics and practical theology in the North East of England. Grants are made for research that:
- Engages with the people and churches of the region, and arises from the questions and issues that they are encountering.
- Advances understanding of these questions/issues and responses to them, particularly through developing engaged theological reflection on practice.
- Seeks to create wider social impact.
The Fund is keen to work with churches and community partners who share similar aims and wish to initiate and host researchers working on substantive pieces of research.
Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Director, Andrew Orton, to discuss their ideas for applications at an early stage, and before submission of any application. A formal application can then be made by following the process detailed on the ‘How to Apply’ page.
Potential themes:
The Fund is open to proposals relating to any topic or theme of demonstrated significance to churches and Christian social action in the region.
Themes of interest for future research applications based on previous engagement include one or more of the following:
- Work, money and debt, poverty and wider inequalities (within the region, and between the North East and other regions)
- Different responses to such issues and inequalities (e.g. through community organising, social enterprise, tackling discrimination, etc.), particularly those involving working across different individuals and groups.
- Rural and urban issues, including housing, land, and regeneration.
- Developing communities, including building relationships between diverse individuals and groups of people.
- Being Church in the North East: Roles, change, growth and decline.
- Christian/church responses to social and political issues such as addiction, mental health, supporting refugees and asylum seekers; tackling climate change and broader ecological/environmental challenges.
We therefore welcome applications addressing any one or a combination of these topics, or other themes where applicants can demonstrate wider support. Applications from researchers wishing to undertake research on other topics, themes and questions that are proven priorities of churches and Christian social action projects within the region are also eligible. In all cases, within their application, applicants need to include evidence of support from relevant churches and/or Christian social action projects.
Strong applications will typically demonstrate evidence of:
- A clear fit with the WLRF aims and approach as described above.
- A high-quality research proposal, including clear framing of the research questions; coherence of research design, methodology and methods to address these questions, consideration of ethical issues, and the practicality of the proposed research plan within the timescale planned.
- Engagement with relevant partners in designing the research and within plans for carrying out the research. Applications are strengthened where they consider the process through which the research may involve relevant stakeholders at appropriate stages, and how this may lead to wider understanding, action and impact relating to the chosen research topic/questions.
- Wider relevance (beyond the immediate partners involved), with strong plans for disseminating findings and generating wider impact in line with the Research Fund’s aims.
- Value for money, including realistic budget plans.
- A proposed named researcher/research team able to deliver the proposed project successfully, including evidence of their relevant previous track record.
The Fund has previously funded projects involving different methods and methodologies and is open to researchers proposing the most appropriate approaches for their application. The Research Fund Management Committee is open to considering collaborative and/or participatory approaches that engage research participants in reflecting theologically together through the research process.
When awarding fellowships, there is a preference for making awards to researchers who intend to reside in the North East for the duration of their fellowship.
Eligible costs:
Practically, typical funding bids may include the costs of undertaking a specific research project, addressing a defined overall question/topic. This may include the costs of designated researcher/s working on the project, which may take various forms such as:
- postdoctoral research costs: These are normally the costs of funding a postdoctoral research fellowship full-time for one year or equivalent part time (e.g. 0.5 full time equivalent for 2 years), with remuneration equivalent to that of a university post-doctoral research position, plus an agreed contribution towards study, travel, engagement and dissemination expenses. Applicants should have suitable qualifications. (At the point of application, applicants should normally have passed their doctoral viva; if there are outstanding corrections required to the doctoral thesis following the viva, applicants need to be able to show evidence that these can realistically be completed before the expected date of taking up any WLRF award.) Applicants for this category of award should note that the Management Committee expect that a typical grant application in this category will be in the region of £50,000.
- grants for supported leave for established scholars or clergy on sabbatical leave, covering shorter periods of up to one year, or for lay people with appropriate interests and experience, to engage in theological reflection and research. All applicants for these smaller grants should be able to demonstrate that they have sufficient skills in research and theological reflection to undertake the work they propose to do. These are designed to help cover accommodation, academic support and facilities, and study, travel, engagement and dissemination expenses. The total value of an award will be up to a maximum of £15,000. Support may be given either to those wishing to research and engage in the North East, and/or those already resident in the North East who wish to undertake comparative research. Applicants for these smaller grants do not necessarily need to have a doctorate, although applications do need to involve theological reflection and research at an appropriate scale for the award. It is recognised that these applications may involve work at a correspondingly smaller scale than larger applications, and will be assessed proportionately. Where it is considered helpful, costs for an appropriate research mentor can be included within the budget to support this work.
- Other researcher and research costs may be considered that satisfy the William Leech Research Fund objectives but which do not fit directly under either of these categories. For example, these might include: the costs for churches/Christian social action projects within the region to enable them to engage researcher/s in partnership with the William Leech Research Fund, or enable particular churches or organisations to undertake participatory research approaches with appropriate supporting expertise.