Academics from Aberystwyth University have announced that communities in some areas of Wales can apply for a new grant worth £20,000 for projects that can help improve their local areas in future. The Community-led Action Research Grant is a part of the Cymru Wledig Local Policy and Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Rural Wales, which is led by Aberystwyth University.
The grant will fund up to six research projects. Along with the money, successful applicants will receive training and professional support by an academic mentor and the opportunity to contact and learn from other projects that will receive funding.
In a statement Professor Mike Woods Director of the project, said:
“This programme is about giving rural communities the tools and support to investigate what matters most to them – whether that’s improving wellbeing, tackling climate change, or strengthening local culture – and to turn that knowledge into action.”
“This is an opportunity for communities to take the lead in shaping their own futures, and we are excited to support projects that reflect the creativity, resilience and ambition of rural Wales.”
The grant is open to communities in rural areas of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Monmouthshire, Pembrokeshire, Powys, and the Vale of Glamorgan.
To qualify, projects must align with at least one of four key themes of Cymru Wledig LPIP Rural Wales: building a regenerative economy; supporting the Net Zero transition; empowering communities for cultural recovery; or enhancing wellbeing in place.
The fund is provided by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), and Innovate UK as part of Cymru Wledig LPIP Rural Wales led by Aberystwyth University. The programme is administered by Together For Change and you can find more information about the Community-led Action Research Grant on their website. Applications are open until midnight 29 August 2025.
