This funding is linked to the Seldom Heard Communities event held on Wednesday 19th May 2021 (full information available below).

Police Scotland, the Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR) and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) have joined together to provide significant funding for projects and activities which will meet genuine evidence gaps and support Police Scotland to further contact and engagement with all elements of our communities in Scotland, but particularly those groups which are seldom heard.

The term ‘seldom-heard groups’ refers to under-represented people who may be less likely to engage with Police for a variety reasons (such as race, religion, sexuality, disability, age and communities isolated through geography or deprivation). A focus on understanding seldom heard groups will place more emphasis on Police Scotland and our collaborators to connect with these communities ensuring their voices are heard; their needs are met; and their perspectives are understood.

Police Scotland is keen to explore areas for further research that would help meet genuine evidence gaps, towards enabling policing to further enhance its support to ‘seldom heard’ communities and as such, we invite all interested parties (academics, researchers, practitioners, service users, third sector and support workers) to explore public confidence in Police Scotland for these communities.

If you would like to discuss the suitability of your project idea to ensure it would be appropriate for the remit of the seldom heard communities call, please contact either Monica Boyle (SPR Knowledge Exchange and Business Manager – m.boyle@napier.ac.uk) OR Dr Megan O’Neill (SIPR Associate Director and leader of the Police Community Relations network – m.oneill@dundee.ac.uk).

Eligibility

Applications are welcomed from all academics, researchers, and practitioners with expertise in ‘Seldom Heard’ communities. Although primarily we are seeking to fund small research projects, we are also keen to explore other activities which may address knowledge gaps in this area. This may include literature reviews, evidence-based training, and knowledge exchange activities etc.

Value

A total of £50,000 will be available, however, the maximum value contribution per application will be limited to £20,000. We welcome proposals which include co-funding from other sources (which may bring the total project value above £20,000).

In line with SIPR funding requirements, at least £20,000 of funding for successful grants must be led by HEI’s within the SIPR consortium. Although the SIPR HEI must be the administering organisation, we strongly encourage applications which partner with non-SIPR HEIs and organisations.

Assessment Process

To ensure that all funded projects are of high quality, all applications will be subject to a robust assessment process in two stages. The review stage will include assessment by an independent panel comprising of senior academics, representatives from the third sector, as well as policing personnel. Reviewers will be asked to score against predefined criteria including:

• The extent to which the proposed project meets knowledge gaps within police engagement with seldom heard communities;

• Suitability of proposed team (i.e., Project Lead/ Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator’s experience and expertise in the field of study)

• Feasibility (i.e., a project’s ambition and ability to deliver outcomes to budget and within timescales);

• Innovation; (i.e., demand driven and/or meeting a gap in knowledge, demonstrating value for money, as well as credible work plan); and

• Potential benefits/impact (i.e., project legacy and potential to influence police and practice); and

• We particularly welcome applications that form the first/early stage of longer-term work that articulate an intention or potential to build Research and Knowledge Exchange capacity and generate new income.