ARC NWC is pleased to invite applications for an open call of the ARC NWC Mental Health Early Career Researcher Development Fellowships. These fellowships aim to enable Early Career Researchers to develop substantial competitive grant funding applications. The funding is to support the development of an application and the groundwork needed. This will vary depending on discipline, type of external grant application being targeted and the work already completed. However, the programme of activities must contribute to building a strong case for support for the external award. Examples include systematic scoping reviews, community and public engagement, surveys, proof of concept/principle studies, consensus meetings and developing the application team.

We are seeking applications from within our member HEIs and member organisations that will result in major funding applications related to mental health priorities and aligned to ARC NWC research themes. Information about our research themes and cross-cutting themes is available here. A list of our current members can be found here.

Projects must be collaborative, involve the public/patients/services users in the co-production of the research, and address health inequalities. Applicants are expected to have previous research training (e.g. MPH/MRes/PhD) and a developing track record of delivering and publishing research. Successful applicants will be expected to contribute to the ARC NWC Partners Priorities Programme by participating in and facilitating co-development groups, including public engagement.

Funding of up to £15,000 is available for up to nine months from 1st January 2024 to release the lead applicant’s time to work on the project and provide additional research support including attendance at meetings, networking and briefing events related to the call, support patient, carer and public engagement and involvement activities (please refer to INVOLVE).

Staff should be costed at 100% of direct costs and costings should be prepared with support of your finance department.

This is now an open call.

For more information and an application pack please contact arcnwc@uclan.ac.uk.

Examples of Mental Health Early Career Researcher Development Fellowship projects
• Kathryn Jarvis – Participation and engagement in self-selected leisure activities following stroke
• Leila Sharda – Safe and supportive implementation of patient educator programmes in clinical education in mental health
• Pete Carruthers – “Empathy Machines”: using theatre and film in the training of compassionate and reflective health professionals