Bristol SU Secures £20,000 to Empower Student Researchers
We’re excited to announce that the Bristol SU has been awarded a £20,000 grant from Research England’s Research Culture Fund for our brand-new Future Research Leaders Project. This initiative will give eight students from underrepresented backgrounds the chance to gain hands-on research experience, develop new skills, and make a real impact in their community.
The project, which launched last week, is a collaboration between Bristol SU’s Research and Insights Team and local mental health charity Changes Bristol. Over the next six months, the selected students will explore solutions to mental health challenges in the community, using research to help create change.
Barriers exist in academia, and for some students, opportunities to get involved in research can feel out of reach. The Future Research Leaders Project is about breaking those barriers. By offering practical experience and support, we’re making research more accessible, helping students build confidence, and opening pathways for future careers in research.
Local Impact
Working with Changes Bristol, the students will focus on developing meaningful, research-backed solutions to mental health issues affecting the local community. Specifically developing a research led solution to the question;
What are the barriers of men of colour to access non-NHS mental health support?
The findings will be shared with Changes Bristol and other key stakeholders, ensuring that the work leads to real improvements for students and local communities. The project will finish in July 2025, where the students’ work will be showcased at the Research England Festival. This is going to be a great opportunity to celebrate the value of diverse, community-led research and highlight the students’ achievements.
Turning Potential into Progress
At Bristol SU, we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable research culture. The Future Research Leaders Project is about turning potential into progress. The new future research leaders project is giving students from all backgrounds the opportunity to contribute to research that reflects the diverse world we live in.
This project has been made possible by the passion and expertise of the Research and Insights Team: Dr. Maya Al-Khouja, Troy Wey, Freya Rennison, and Project lead Rasheed Taiwo. Together, they are helping to ensure that research is for everyone
