East Midlands Branch

BPS East Midlands Branch PGR Pump Priming Fund

Our Pump-Priming Fund exists to enable Post-Graduate Researchers (who are branch members) to conduct research studies or organise events that may lead to a larger research project or similar outcome.

Funds may be requested for primary research activities (e.g., participant remuneration, consumables), the development of a network of potential collaborators, or the organization of workshops and/or public engagement events, and the committee will favour applications that focus on the current campaigns of the BPS.

Applicants are encouraged to seek matched funding wherever possible, although it is not a requirement that proposals include matched funding.

Criteria

Eligible costs include any costs associated with the project, but please note that:

• The Branch does not cover costs associated with academic staff time or replacement teaching costs.
• The Branch does not cover institutional overheads.
• Grant holders are expected to provide a report of around 500 words for publication in our newsletter, together with a final budgetary report, within three months of the end of the funding period.
• Grant holders must be PGR students and members of the BPS East Midlands Branch.
• The maximum grant available under this scheme is £200 per applicant, however, we anticipate most projects will be budgeted for £100, with a strong justification required if applicants wish to request the full amount. The duration of projects funded under the scheme is typically no longer than 12 months. Funds must be invoiced to the BPS by Year End.

Guidance for application

Applicants will be required to provide the following information:

• Name
• Organisation/affiliation
• BPS membership number
• How independently the student worked

The following details will also be required:

• Aims and objectives
• Anticipated outcomes (e.g. publications; further research proposals; presentations; ‘impact’)
• Costings (please be as detailed as possible)
• Timeframe (including proposed start and end dates)
• Work Planned (this section should include the details of the activities planned)

How to apply

Applications are now open.

The deadline for submissions is 4pm on Thursday 16 November 2023.

Submit your application for the pump-priming fund here

Judging process

• Committee members must declare any conflicts of interest before participating in the decision-making process.
• An Awarding Sub-Committee will review all applications.  The Committee’s decision is final.
• The number and level of awards made in any one year may vary.
• The Committee will assess the applications on originality and potential contribution to knowledge, value for money, and outputs and dissemination. 

Please contact [email protected] if you have any further questions.

Conference and Event Bursaries

Conference bursaries are available to support members of the BPS East Midlands Branch to attend (physically or virtually) any academic or practitioner conference or CPD event relevant to the applicants work.

Criteria:

• Each bursary consists of up to £100 to  contribute towards the costs of registration and/or travel (if applicable).
• All applicants must be members or student subscribers of the British Psychological Society.
• All applicants must agreement to provide receipts for all relevant expenditure to the Branch treasurer.
• Applications must make a strong case for need and the benefits of attendance.
• It is expected that applicants will not apply more than once each year.

Application process:

Applicants will be required to provide:

1. Name
2. Organisation/affiliation
3. BPS membership number
4. Details of the conference that the applicant wishes to attend, including title of event, date(s) and registration costs.
5. A statement of not more than 150 words providing a brief explanation of why a bursary is needed (e.g., because a postgraduate student is not funded by a research council or their institution), why the applicant should be awarded a bursary, and how she or he will benefit from attending the conference.

All successful applicants will be requested to submit a 500 word blog style summary of the event attended suitable for publication in the Quarterly East Midlands Branch newsletter.

There are two rounds of the scheme each year, one in June and one in November.

How to apply

The November round of submissions is now open.

Submissions must be received by 16 November.

Submit your application for a conference or event bursary here

Submissions will be reviewed by a sub-panel of the East Midlands Branch committee members

Please contact [email protected] if you have any further questions.

Chair: Jane Montague

Honorary Treasurer: Leila Ainge

Honorary Secretary: Charlotte Scott

Committee Members:

• Mia Morgan 
• Chloe Ryding
• Matthew Gill
• Angharad Williams
• Vrushant Lakhlani
• Danai Serfioti
• Nelline Ranaweera
• Yasmin Taylor
• Vlad Makar

West Midlands Representative: Lawrence Moulin

DCP East Midlands Representative: Mike Marriott

PsyPAG Representative: Christina Kent

Student Ambassador Lead: Charlotte Ward

E-newsletter Editor Representative: Chris Richards

Join

When you join the BPS you are automatically made a member of your local branch.

The East Midlands Branch of the BPS covers the following areas/postcodes:

• Derby (DE)
• Leicester (LE)
• Lincoln (LN)
• Milton Keynes (MK)
• Nottingham (NG)
• Northampton (NN)

Member e-newsletter

The East Midlands Branch uses its e-newsletter to inform its members of activities and initiatives that are relevant to their interests and to make requests for engagement on topical issues. 

To receive this you will need to:

1. become a member of the East Midlands Branch
2. check your email preferences that you have opted into receiving emails
3. ensure that your email address is correct

You can check your preferences by logging into your member portal.

If you have any queries, please contact Member Network support - East Midlands Branch.

Getting involved with the East Midlands Committee

The East Midlands Branch relies on a wide range of people getting involved, and the work of the Branch is largely achieved through the dedication of unpaid volunteers.

Our volunteers come from a wide range of different backgrounds, whether they be practitioners or academics, or full members or in-training members, and together form an open and inclusive community.