We support people who live in Ealing, and staff working in the council or in local voluntary and community organisations, to develop their research skills.
Our mentoring helps you understand the building blocks of health, explore how they affect our communities, and grow your confidence as a researcher.
Current opportunities include:
NIHR Pre-Application Support Fund
Working with the University of West London, we offer local mentoring to help local people, council staff and community organisations prepare their application for the Pre‑Application Support Fund.
The fund is designed to help you develop a research career in health and social care, including areas linked to the building blocks of health, such as transport, education, employment, and the environment.
It provides up to 12 months of flexible support to help you get ready to apply for an NIHR career development award. This support can include:
- training
- protected time
- backfill for your role
There are 3 funding rounds each year.
To find out more, watch our webinar and email HDRC@ealing.gov.uk if you’d like local mentoring support.
NIHR Public Health Grassroots Awards
These awards are for people working in Public Health or in roles that tackle the wider factors that shape health.
The aim is to open up public health research opportunities to people outside the NHS – especially those who may not usually have access to them.
Through the award, you can learn more about research, build practical skills and support evidence‑informed decision making. It also helps you understand the support available from the NIHR and connect with others working in research across the country.
You can apply for a Public Health Grassroots Award of up to £5,000, which can be used flexibly to suit your needs. You don’t need any previous research experience – for many people, this will be their first step into research.
The award supports your personal and professional development, while helping local authorities and community groups become more research active.
The deadline for the current round is 27 January 2026.
For more information, visit the Public Health Grassroots Funding Call – January 2026 and contact HDRC@ealing.gov.uk if you’re interested in applying.