Diversity & Inclusion Initiative Fund open for submissions

The University is accepting bids for funding between £300 and £1,000 for projects and initiatives themed around diversity and inclusion.

Examples of how the funding could be used include hosting diversity and inclusion related events and covering costs for producing materials.

Applications are welcome from all colleagues across the University. Projects suggested by students, supported by staff member as the project lead are also welcomed. This is the summer round of funding this academic year. In this round, we are particularly keen to receive applications with a component or focus on intersectionality.

Applications must be made using this Application Form. Please complete this and email it to the central Diversity and Inclusion Team at diversity@reading.ac.uk by 17:00 on 12 September 2022.

We expect to notify applicants of decisions on funding bids by October 2022. The decisions made by the panel are final. Feedback will be provided where possible.

Assessments will be based on the following principles:

• Diversity and inclusion relevance specifically to School, Function or University.
• Link to School/Function/University aims or KPIs - although we would also encourage initiatives relevant to other protected characteristics.
• Potential and plan for longer term impact on wider University.
• Any allocated funds must be used by July 2023.
  

Please note that as a condition of the funding, we require some reporting back from you:

• A 1-2 page report received by the end of August 2023 that details: name of project and leaders and funding awarded; what has been done; what has been spent; what impact(s) there have been and any measurement of this; what follow-up plans there are, or plans for sustaining activities into the future.
• Where possible, 1-2 photos relevant to work you have done as part of the project that we might use in publicity, e.g. staff portal articles, twitter, together with a completed permission form if relevant. These should be high resolution.
• We would also welcome a blog piece to be published on #DiverseReading  which might be at the end of the project or part-way through.
  

We look forward to hearing from you! 

Central D&I Team

Previous successful bids can be viewed in the #DiverseReading blogpost ‘Diversity and Inclusion Initiative Fund – Successful Bids’