Grants from £15,000 up to £750,000 available for research to help understand the barriers to and find solutions for a more racially just and inclusive society.
The UK’s distinct racial composition has been shaped by the migration of citizens from former British colonies, with the arrival of the Empire Windrush in 1948 marking the beginning of post-war migration to the UK.
Today, more than 25% of the population belong to ethnic groups other than White British, but extensive research shows racial inequalities across society in health, housing, education, employment, crime, and justice. There is less evidence on why some gaps persist while others have closed, and on the effectiveness of policies and programmes in ending inequalities. Additionally, there has been little research focused on the benefits and opportunities that racial diversity can bring.
What we will fund
The new Racial Diversity UK fund will support rigorous research into identifying the barriers and developing solutions for a more racially equitable society.
The programme aims to be broad in its reach, interested in questions of socio-economic equality, belonging, inclusion, barriers and opportunities, demographic trends, international comparisons and the interconnections between these themes. The central focus is race and ethnicity, from which intersections with class, disability, gender, place, and other dynamics can be explored.
We expect the research to:
- Contribute to understanding, public debate, policy and/or practice on tackling racial inequalities, discrimination and disadvantage.
- Map pathways towards a UK that is comfortable with and reaping the benefits of its growing racial diversity.
We want to encourage people from diverse backgrounds, particularly from racially minoritised communities, to apply. We also support partnership applications bringing together researchers, organisations and communities. Please do get in touch to discuss your idea!Liz Gilfillan, Racial Diversity UK Programme Head
Scope of the fund
The programme is funded by an endowment that supports work relating to the Commonwealth. This means Racial Diversity UK is focused on the future of our society as shaped by migration from former colonies to the UK, and the accompanying dynamics of racialisation, resources and power which have produced the UK’s distinct racial diversity and its patterns of racial discrimination and inequality. We take a broad view of racial diversity as covering all racial or ethnic groups living in the UK, including White populations.
As for all our grant programmes, we welcome applications proposing any methodological approach, including applied methods and participatory research.
How much money can I apply for?
Grants will generally range from £15,000 up to £750,000. If you are considering applying for a large grant (anything over £400k) or a small project (below £15k), please contact us at an early stage to discuss your idea and the scale of your project.
Find out more
As a new fund, we are open to exploring and testing ideas on how Racial Diversity UK could develop, and we are interested in talking to anyone who is thinking about applying or would like to find out more information. Please contact RDUK@nuffieldfoundation.org with any comments or questions.
How to apply
For more info on how to apply visit the Racial Diversity Fund page. Our first application round is open until 14 October.
