An innovative new Learned Society of Wales grant scheme, funded and delivered in partnership with the Williamson Trust, has made awards of up to £10,000 each to six projects based around the theme of ‘Healthy People, Healthy Planet’. The recipients will produce content based on existing, reliable research and evidence, aimed at countering the culture of misinformation that characterises much public debate. The Trusted Voices scheme was set up to fund researchers and knowledge-producers to create innovative, engaging, and trustworthy content, aimed at audiences in Wales and beyond.

The six successful projects are:
Full: women, health, and the science of eating
Healthy Waters, Informed Communities
“Bwydydd ddoe, Bwydo fory!”/ “Saving the Stories of Welsh Food”
Trusted Voices for Climate, Energy and Environment at Green Man
Your Environment, Your Mind: Youth Voices on Mental Health
Bathed in Sunlight, Rooted in the Sea

The grant recipients will now work to realise their proposals, all using existing, reliable research and evidence, and aimed at countering the culture of misinformation that characterises much of current public debate.
Professor Karen Salt, one of the trustees of the Williamson Trust and an active participant throughout the application process said: “In our current challenging environment of misinformation, it can be hard to know who to trust for credible, insightful information covering healthy people, a healthy planet and healthy communities.
“We, at The Williamson Trust, are delighted that the Trusted Voices programme, built in partnership with the Learned Society of Wales, can fill this gap and connect knowledge bearers, wherever they sit, with communities.
“At its core, the Trusted Voices programme is committed to meaningful engagement and transformative exchange. The projects, people and communities that form part of this first round of funding are a testimony to the brilliant ideas and powerful partnerships that exist across Wales.”
Professor Dame Elan Closs Stephens, President, Learned Society of Wales, said:
“There has been an extraordinary response to our Trusted Voices grants. Our recipients demonstrate what a wealth of knowledge we have in the Learned Society and in our communities. My heartfelt thanks to the Williamson Trust who have funded this work through their commitment to a vision of Healthy Planet Healthy People. By working together, we are developing an invaluable resource for our society in Wales.”

Shortlisted participants were invited to take part in a training day earlier this year. Its aim was to hone the skills needed to communicate complex research in ways that could be easily understood by communities across Wales most affected by that research.

Mae gwybodaeth yn bwerus | Information is powerful Video

We look forward to following the development of the projects over the coming months, with the final project outcomes delivered in July 2027.

For more information see LSW press release:

LSW press release