The programme will support new and early career researchers to develop competitive, impact-focused research.

The New Researchers in Policing Network (NRiPN) has opened applications for its 2026 Grant Writing Mentorship Programme, a six‑month initiative designed to help emerging policing researchers develop competitive, collaborative, and impact‑focused funding proposals. The programme offers one-to-one mentoring and virtual training, with a fully funded in‑person grant writing workshop and networking dinner, where participants will work directly with police practitioners and senior academics from across the N8 PRP network.

The programme is designed to support new and early career researchers who are currently developing a policing research project for an external funding application. There is no minimum or maximum level of experience required, and the programme may be especially valuable for police practitioners stepping into research, early career researchers developing their first major grant proposal, or more experienced researchers moving into policing research. 

Applications are open until 30 June 2026, with the programme beginning on 1 August 2026.

A Workshop Designed for Real‑World Collaboration

The Grant Writing Workshop, taking place on 15 September 2026, is the programme’s flagship event. This one‑day, in‑person session is built around mentorship with senior policing academics and policing practitioners, enabling participants to test ideas, refine research questions, and shape proposals that respond to real operational needs.

The workshop is designed to help applicants strengthen the practical relevance, feasibility, and impact potential of their projects—key elements for success with major funders.

To support relationship‑building, N8 PRP will host a fully funded networking dinner the evening before the workshop. This dinner provides a rare opportunity for early career researchers, lived experience researchers, and practitioners to connect informally, explore shared interests, and begin forming partnerships that may continue well beyond the programme. NRiPN will cover reasonable UK travel and accommodation costs for all successful applicants.

A Structured Pathway from Idea to Fundable Proposal

Beyond the workshop and dinner, the programme includes:

• Monthly one‑to‑one mentoring: Each participant is paired with a senior policing researcher for personalised support from August 2026 to January 2027.

• Virtual training sessions: Covering pathways to impact, co‑production, and partnership working—core skills for developing competitive, collaborative proposals.

• Access to policing stakeholders: Opportunities to engage with practitioners who may support, shape, or participate in the proposed research.

The programme is free to attend, and places are awarded through a competitive application process.

Building on a Proven Model

The initiative has been developed with the support of Professor Catherine Robinson, drawing on her leadership of the Stepping into Research (StiR) programme in mental health and social care. StiR has demonstrated the value of structured mentoring combined with in‑person development events, with participants describing the experience as “invaluable.” The NRiPN programme adapts this successful model specifically for policing research, with an added emphasis on practitioner collaboration.

Professor Robinson said, 

“This is an exciting new venture for N8 PRP that will provide individuals with mentorship and support to turn research ideas into  potentially fundable research projects. Research capacity building is the best part of my job. Seeing careers develop and research have impact is very satisfying.”

New Researchers in Policing Network

Applications are open to New Researchers in Policing Network (NRiPN). 

NRiPN is a community of Post Graduate and Early Career Researchers in the N8 PRP region that supports research, bids, events, collaboration, and impact. NRiPN is free to join and open to all postgraduate and early career researchers at a university or employed by a police force in the north of England. 

For more information and how to join, please see the NRiPN webpage. 

Apply Now

For more information and how to apply, please see the NRiPN Grant Writing Mentorship Programme page or click the link below. 

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