Innovate Now with Wellcome offers multi-year grants and tailored capacity-building support to UK-based Black-led initiatives that support the wellbeing and research careers of Black Heritage and Mixed Black Heritage people. The programme aims to strengthen leadership, governance, financial resilience and operational capacity so organisations can create sustainable, long-term change within the UK research ecosystem.
Who can apply?
- Registered charities, Community Interest Companies, social enterprises and limited companies
- Sole traders and appropriately governed unincorporated or unregistered groups; fiscal hosting arrangements may also be accepted
- UK-based initiatives with annual income of no more than £150,000 and a track record of supporting Black Heritage or Mixed Black Heritage researchers, students or communities involved in research careers
- Black-led initiatives where more than 50% of the leadership identifies as Black Heritage or Mixed Black Heritage
- Organisations where at least 75% of directors, trustees or equivalent governing-body members have relevant lived experience, subject to flexibility where decision-making remains Black-led
What can you get?
- £13,000 over two years for unincorporated initiatives, sole traders, constituted groups and registered initiatives with annual income below £10,000
- £21,000 over three years for registered initiatives with annual income of £10,000–£30,000
- £48,000 over three years for registered initiatives with annual income of £30,000–£150,000
- Tailored support with governance, leadership, wellbeing, internal systems, financial resilience, operational readiness and peer learning
Deadline
27 November 2026
Key notes
- The second 2026 application round opened on 7 September 2026.
- At least one organisational decision-maker must be a Do it Now Now member; membership is free.
- Eligible activity can include mentoring and peer networks, training and workshops, community engagement, research-support services, advocacy and work addressing systemic barriers in research culture.
- Applications begin with an Expression of Interest, followed by a health check and due diligence, supported proposal development and onboarding for successful applicants.
- Weekly online application-support drop-ins run on Mondays from 4pm–5pm during the application window, excluding bank holidays.