Community Driven Approaches to Tackling Inequalities - Inequalities Strategic Grant 2026/27

The UCL Grand Challenge of the Inequalities has launched a funding scheme to support new projects in 2026/27 and 2027/28 that develop practical, community-driven approaches and solutions to addressing inequalities, with a specific focus on placing young people and future generations at the centre of change.

The call sits within the Community-Led Change priority, which asks: How can UCL and its communities move from shared knowledge to shared power, co-designing real solutions to inequality together? We invite proposals for two-year projects that are solution-focused. Projects should aim to develop, test and refine practical models of participatory change. These may include, for example:

• community-owned approaches to addressing a specific inequality challenge (within the realm of the GCI programme - i.e. political/economic/cultural inequity + space/digital domains);
• training, learning or skills pathways that equip young people and communities to lead change;
• co-designed tools, methods or resources that support community-led action;
• practical interventions that can be tested locally and adapted or scaled elsewhere;
• models of partnership working that shift power towards communities and young people;
• approaches that generate evidence capable of informing policy, practice or institutional change.

Applicants should not merely consult but actively involve young people or communities as co-producers and decision-makers throughout the project.

Up to £20,000. The first £10,000 (or sub amount thereof) of funding must be spent by 31 July 2027. The remaining £10,000 must be spent by 31 July 2028.

Go to the Inequalities Strategic Grant 26/27 SharePoint page to find out more

As part of our commitment to equity and inclusion, we would particularly like to encourage applications from underrepresented groups. We also encourage applicants to integrate EDI considerations throughout their project plans, from team composition to dissemination of results. 

The Grand Challenges team has recently published a blog - What we’ve learnt from reviewing Grand Challenges proposals — and how this can help you - which contains tips and advice on writing a strong application. 

Who is this for? 

• First applicants must be UCL staff – in research, academic, teaching or professional services roles.
• Second applicants can be either UCL staff (in research, academic, teaching or professional services roles), UCL PhD students or external partners where appropriate, either academic (i.e. at another university) or non-academic (e.g. at a policy, third sector, charity, community, or business organisation).  
• If both applicants are from UCL, the first and second applicants must be from different departments or professional services offices and are encouraged to be from different faculties at UCL

Please note: Applications must be made using Flexigrant®. We will not accept emailed applications. 

The deadline for applications is Friday 31 July 2026, 17.00

If you have any questions or require the form in an alternative format, please email Ethne James-Souch (e.james-souch@ucl.ac.uk).