PPIE Awards Webinar
The MHP PPIE Awards Webinar took place on Thursday 18 December. A summary of some of the questions with answers provided are below. At the bottom of the page you can download the unedited automatically generated transcript of the webinar here.
Please note the information in this webinar and in the questions below may only apply to Round 1 of the PPIE Awards. For the most updated information please consult the main page on PPIE Awards below.
Applications for the awards are open now, with funding from £2,000 to £20,000.
See below for a summary of questions asked following the webinar, with answers provided.
Contracting, Host Organisations, and Budgeting
The host organisation’s role is administrative and facilitative only. No additional overheads or indirect costs should be included for the host organisation. Budgets should include only direct, clearly justified project costs, in line with eligible costs. Applicants should follow the published budget example on the MHP website.
Any organisation with appropriate legal and financial capacity to administer funds may act as a host, including independent companies led by PPIE members.
Contracts will be arranged through the host organisation. Further operational details will be shared with successful applicants at the awards stage. Applicants with specific concerns that may affect their application are encouraged to contact the MHP Coordinating Team.
Project Timelines
No. Applicants define their own project start and end dates.
Your project should begin within 6 months of receiving the decision, and once the contract is signed, the project should start within 1 month.
All funded projects, regardless of round, must end on or before 31 December 2028.
Funding & Costing
The MHP expects to fund approximately 2–3 projects per round, with awards ranging from £2,000 to £20,000. Funding decisions will be based on feasibility and potential impact.
The PPIE Awards are designed to support smaller-scale projects and to provide accessible funding for individuals, including those from non-research backgrounds or those leading a research project for the first time. Larger awards, such as Collaboration & Innovation (C&I) Awards or ECR Fellowships, are designed for different purposes and levels of activity.
NIHR guidance applies to public involvement payments only. Researcher or staff costs should be costed appropriately and justified within the overall project budget.
Yes, provided the costs relate to work that is additional to, and not already covered by, an existing MHP workstream. All salary costs must fit within the £2,000–£20,000 award limit and be clearly justified.
Claims will be made on a quarterly basis. Detailed guidance on claiming mechanisms will be provided to successful applicants at the awards stage.
PPIE / LEAP Leadership, Support, and Remuneration
Applying for the PPIE Awards is voluntary, and the Platform aims not to place additional pressure on individuals. Support is available from the MHP Coordinating Team, the PPIE Coordinator, and Hub teams during both the application process and the project itself. Applicants are encouraged to co-lead projects to share responsibility and support.
The PPIE Awards were developed with input from the MHP PPIE Steering Group, including agreement on timelines and scope. While this first round was not co-produced, successful applicants will lead the development, delivery, and direction of their projects. The process will be reviewed after this round, including consideration of fixed fees for application planning in future rounds.
Applicants can access support by:
- Attending scheduled drop-in sessions
- Contacting the MHP Coordinating Team mhp@ed.ac.uk
- Speaking with their Hub leads
No. Applicants can contact the MHP Coordinating Team for support in shaping applications or identifying skills and collaborators. Ongoing support will be available throughout the project lifecycle for funded projects.