Day: May 16, 2019

Launch of overseas research grants for UK citizens to explore innovations worldwide

Applications open today for the Churchill Fellowships, a life-changing opportunity for UK citizens to research new ideas worldwide and make change happen in their communities and sectors when they come home.

Fellowships are offered in a range of practical subjects, from healthcare to education, social enterprise to rural living. These are open to all UK citizens, and will fund them to travel for 4-8 weeks anywhere in the world seeking out the best ideas and practice to be found anywhere in the world.

This year three new Fellowship categories will explore new ideas for improving palliative and end of life care, encouraging physical activity, and using the arts to enhance the built environment.

Churchill Fellowships are travel grants that fund dedicated and dynamic individuals to research innovative ideas and best practice overseas, then bring their global insights back to the UK and make change happen in their professions and communities. They are awarded to people from all parts of UK society, regardless of age, qualifications or background.

Julia Weston, Chief Executive of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, said: “A Churchill Fellowship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore new ideas globally and make a difference with them back home.

“We are funding Fellowships to find inspiration from the world’s best projects and practice across a range of practical issues, including three new categories that reflect some of the biggest challenges facing the UK today. We hope that anyone with real passion for a cause will seize this opportunity to find solutions.”

Past Fellow Retta Bowen, a child psychotherapist from London who research approaches to working with children affected by substance misuse, said: “My trip was one of the best experiences of my life and changed my relationship to learning and innovation forever.”

12 award categories are offered, addressing current challenges facing the UK:

Applications in the 12 subjects are open from 16 May at www.wcmt.org.uk.

Deadline for applications is 17 September 2019 for travel in 2020.

All you need to know about the European Elections

We never thought it would come to this, but …
The UK should have left the EU on 29th March, but as we all know it didn’t happen. We are now due to leave on or before 31st October, but because we are still currently part of the EU we must take part in the European elections – even if our newly-elected MEPs will only be in post for a matter of weeks.
The last time European elections were held (in 2014), the UK spent £109m on them.
The elections for the European Parliament will be held a week today on 23 May 2019. Voters will choose 73 MEPs in 12 multi-member regional constituencies across the UK. Each region has a different number of MEPs based on its population.

Continue reading All you need to know about the European Elections

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Photo Exhibition: Childhood Disrupted at the Assembly Rooms

Childhood Disrupted

The children of South Sudan have faced it all. Conflict, hunger and for some, an unimaginable journey to safety. Continue reading Photo Exhibition: Childhood Disrupted at the Assembly Rooms

Cashback for Communities fund open for applications

More than £18 million seized from criminals is to fund projects which divert disadvantaged young people away from crime. Phase 5 of the unique funding stream opened yesterday and runs until 28 June. Continue reading Cashback for Communities fund open for applications