‘Healthy Planet, Healthy People’: Catalyst Award (UK)
Section
The ‘Healthy Planet, Healthy People’: Catalyst Awards are designed to support community-led research.
The ‘Healthy Planet, Healthy People’: Catalyst Awards provide funding of up to £5,000 for demonstrator pilot-scale projects that promote the health of individuals through fostering healthy environments and communities, and enabling access to healthy foods.
The awards must speak to one of three topics: Climate, Nature, or Food. Projects should fall broadly under three types. The first type, People, focuses on identifying neglected voices on particular topics and conducting research guided by these voices, taking a people-centred approach. The second type, Problem, is centred on addressing and identifying issues through data collection and analysis. The third type, Practice, involves proposing novel practical solutions to an established problem.
The Williamson Trust and the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) are offering this opportunity to support both new and existing research projects for up to 12 months. Community-based individuals and organisations can apply, with academics also eligible provided the project remains community-led. Each project must be led by a named applicant, who will serve as the main contact and remain available throughout the project, including the reporting period.
Applications are welcome from incorporated and unincorporated community groups, organisations, and individuals, provided eligibility requirements are met. Incorporated groups must fall under categories such as charitable trusts, registered charities, educational or research institutions, cultural institutions, community interest companies, social enterprises, cooperatives, community benefit societies, voluntary or community groups, or non-profit companies limited by guarantee. Unincorporated groups must state a sponsor organisation that can hold funds on their behalf. Lead applicants must be based in Scotland, though consortium applications are encouraged and may include collaborators from across the UK or overseas.
Projects must deliver a Scottish-based impact, though transferable benefits to other communities are encouraged. Each applicant may submit only one proposal, and individuals must provide a letter of support from an eligible organisation such as a registered charity, educational or cultural institution, local authority, or business. Applicants with overdue reports on previous RSE awards will not be considered.
Funding will cover eligible costs such as materials, travel, facilitation, IT, catering (excluding alcohol), staff time directly supporting the project, bench fees, overheads, in-kind participation fees, accessibility support, and administration assistance. Examples include economy travel, visa and accommodation costs, venue hire, event catering, professional services, translation, transcription, and accessibility provisions. However, ineligible costs include medical expenses, excess baggage, taxi travel to Scottish airports, and staff costs unrelated to the project. Applicants are encouraged to prioritise low-carbon options, cost-effectiveness, and accessible delivery.
Applications will be assessed by RSE committees, with evaluation based on the quality and importance of the research, feasibility, outputs and impact, and value for money. The final funding decision rests solely with the RSE and the Williamson Trust. The awards are open from noon on 4 September to noon on 4 December 2025.
