Overview
Communication Matters is pleased to be able to offer an individual, group, or organisation the opportunity to apply for £10,000 funding to undertake a research project. This offer is open to an individual or group with experience of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) who would like to investigate an issue concerned with AAC and sensory loss.
We would consider supporting an individual who would like to use this opportunity to develop research skills. We can connect individuals interested in the award, without existing or current links to an academic partner, to an academic mentor to support them in developing their application and proposed project.
Eligibility
- The individual or group must have substantive employment for the period during which the project will be carried out.
- Applicants must have support from their employer to carry out the project.
- Applicants must have at least 1 years’ experience of working with people who use or using AAC.
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have suitable academic skills or support to complete a project within the designated time available.
How the funding can be used?
The grant is for up to £10,000. This money can be used to cover salary backfill, incidental research costs, research supervision, and research training. We would expect to see a full break down of the proposed spend for the award in the application details.
The remit for the grant is to carry out a research project in relation to AAC and sensory loss or impairment. Suitable activities for the award period could include, but are not limited to, a review of the literature, public and community engagement to generate a research question, developing a research protocol and/or application for further funding, analysing data and writing up the results of a previous project, building a research team to explore AAC and sensory loss further.
We would anticipate that the successful applicant will prepare and submit an abstract for the Communication Matters conference. Funding for the CM conference attendance can be allocated from the research grant. Attendance at an alternative conference, costed through this grant, would need to be fully and clearly justified in the proposal.
The amount awarded will be paid directly to the awardee’s employer and an agreement will be in place between the host organisation and Communication Matters, who will oversee the delivery of this grant.
Support and oversight
The research project should be carried out within a 12-month period, agreed between Communication Matters, the successful applicant, and their employing organisation. The successful applicant will be asked to provide a mid-way update to the Communication Matters and a final report summarising activity, outcomes, and next steps.
As part of this opportunity, Communication Matters will cover membership of a related sensory loss charitable organisation for 1 year. We would expect the award holder to report back on the organisational activity of that charity so that we can share relevant information to our membership and wider AAC community.
The successful applicant will be accountable to the Trustee lead for research for Communication Matters and questions, queries, or changes to the funded project will all be directed to that individual contact during the award.
Apply for funding
Complete the attached application form, a 3 page Curriculum Vitae, and a letter of support from your employer and return to [email protected] by Friday 30 October, 2026.
- Applications should be written in plain English and accessible to range of professional, academic, and lay readers.
- All sections of the form need to be completed. Incomplete application forms will not be considered.
- Emails/letters of support from your line manager and academic supervisor should be attached to the email with the application.
- Make sure that the contents are legible.
- If you require an alternative format for accessibility needs, please email [email protected] to advise us by 7 October (3 weeks in advance of the deadline) and we will look to reasonably adjust the process accordingly.
