News
The RSE is pleased to announce 12 new community-led research awards recipients
Generously backed by the Williamson Trust, a total of £59,518 will be awarded to 12 community research projects located across Scotland.
‘Healthy Planet, Healthy People’: Community-led awards were designed to enable new and existing community-led research projects in any discipline that promote the health of individuals by fostering healthy communities, healthy environments, and healthy food.
This is the first year these awards have been given out, and initially, only ten were planned. However, the strength of the applications was such that a further two projects will now be supported.
Professor David E Salt FRSE, Chair and Trustee of the Williamson Trust, said, “I speak for all the trustees at the Williamson Trust when I say we were incredibly excited to see the very strong response we got from communities across Scotland. From the 40+ applications received, we are proud to be able to fund 12 projects, supporting activities from island and highland communities in the north, urban communities in the central belt, and rural communities in the south.
We are encouraging an amazing array of projects spanning food, nature, and climate, all with the potential to deliver real solutions for Scottish communities. The level of creativity and ingenuity embedded in the projects is staggering. From food waste, the right to food and cooperative local growing, to rebuilding biodiversity and land rights, community street play, urban forests, and climate conversations as street theatre.
The Trust hopes this seed funding will deliver real change and lead to larger impacts going into the future. We are very excited to be working with these communities across Scotland to help them make a new and better future.”
RSE Vice President, Research, Professor Anne Anderson OBE FRSE commented, “This is the first time that the RSE has supported this type of research, as the Society broadens its range of research awards, and I feel that it is vital that we do so.
The health of the individual and the health of the environment are inextricably linked, and it is my hope that these awards will now provide a boost to these exciting research groups which will lead to improvements in both. I very much look forward to following their progress and achievements over the next 12 months.”