Participatory Research

Participatory Research Cohort 2026

We're developing a support programme for 2026 to build expertise and capacity in participatory research across the university. The initiative will bring together a cohort of researchers and research-adjacent staff from diverse disciplines, with the aim of cultivating participatory research champions who will go on to produce excellent work, mentor others, and secure larger internal and external funding.

“Research that works with communities as equal partners has the potential to transform and shape the world we live in. For this reason, the University of Warwick is establishing the 2026 Participatory Research cohort, whereby we are investing in researchers and research enablers who work with communities to co-produce impactful research and deliver meaningful change. I am excited to see people outside of academia having the opportunity to design, conduct and participate in research activities that are relevant to them and benefit the communities we all live in.”

Professor David Leadley, DPVC (Research)

We are launching a participatory research cohort designed to support the development of and pump prime projects with a participatory research component. Participants will receive £3,000 of seed corn funding to develop an event, engagement or scoping activity to get their participatory research started. Alongside this funding they will join a cohort of researchers and research enablers interested in developing participatory research projects. This cohort will attend a programme of four face-to-face workshops, spread over the Spring and Summer terms (2026). This programme will be led by expert trainers in different aspects of participatory research. This will cover everything from participatory research methodologies, to communicating with non-academic, and often vulnerable, communities to creating a plan and proposal of activity which will result in real world change (impact). Running alongside this there will also be a series of online working lunch seminars, in which researchers who utilise participatory research methods will share their experience and reflections. There will also be mentorship and coachingLink opens in a new window available to cohort awardees to inspire, develop and plan their individual projects. Finally in June there will be a showcasing event, an opportunity to share and celebrate the experiences and progress of this participatory research cohort.

Outcomes

The intention of this call, and accompanying programme of training, mentorship and coaching is to develop a cohort which will form a community of practice focussed on participatory research. This comprehensive programme, matched with seed corn funding, will provide a mechanism to develop early phase projects that can go on to win further internal and external funding and to generate research which integrates and involves communities outside of academia.

Expectations of cohort participants

We are looking for researchers and research enablers at any stage of their participatory research journey. The purpose of this scheme is to nurture and develop a cohort interested in and engaged with participatory research. There is no expectation that those applying for this scheme will already have developed relationships and plans in this space. To be competitive, you need a good idea and a strong motivation. This is reflected in the light touch application process - a short online form.

This is an exciting opportunity for awardees to develop their participatory research skill-set and to contribute to a community of practice. For this reason, if awarded cohort members will be expected to attend all face-to-face workshops and the majority of online ‘working lunches’. Failure to do so could result in awarded funds being frozen, and in extreme cases, funding being reclaimed against departments. Please make a note of dates and if at the outset you can see that you will not be able to attend sessions, let us know in the application form.

Application process

This is a light touch process. Applicants just need to complete a short online form. Applicants will be asked to concisely explain their interest in participatory research and to put forth a participatory research project idea (500 words max), which, if selected, they will develop through the course of the training. All successful applicants will receive micro-grants £3,000 to fund their stakeholder engagement work (seed relationships, evidence feasibility, and develop plans for future funding.).

Please also ensure that you have discussed and have Head of Department (HoD) sign-off. Successful applicants will receive an award email with their HoD copied in, and at this point HoD sign-off will be requested. It will ease the process if this permission has already been agreed.