Social Purpose Innovation Fund

Supporting UAL students and staff to co-create imaginative responses to strategic challenges.

Through a participatory grant-making process, the fund will invest £60,000 across 6 challenges.

Applications close 5 December 2025 at 23.59.

1. Biodiversity
2. External advocacy on AI
3. Storytelling with impact
4. Sustainability and AI
5. Waste reduction
6. Wellbeing

The Social Purpose Innovation Fund enables staff and students to respond to timely challenges that matter to UAL’s future. From telling stories with a real-world impact, to shaping sustainable approaches to artificial intelligence.

It builds on the success and learnings of last year’s pilot.

For 2025/26, applicants can respond to 6 innovation challenges, organised by departments across UAL and the Social Purpose Lab. Each challenge offers:

• seed funding for selected proposals
• training for project teams
• check-ins with the fund team and university experts
• opportunities to connect and collaborate with peers.

The fund is delivered through a participatory grant-making model. This means applicants, alongside a group of UAL staff and students, will vote to allocate the funding. The fund process was designed with the support of a community panel of staff and students.

• Apply as an individual or a team. Collaboration between staff and students across the UAL community is highly encouraged.
• You must be a contracted UAL staff member or enrolled as a UAL student for the full project period (February to July 2026).
• Alumni are not eligible to apply, but may collaborate on project teams.
• UAL staff: must have approval from their line manager, dean or director and key stakeholders.
• UAL students: must have approval from their course leader and key stakeholders.
• A project representative must be able to attend the half-day in person decision making sessions on 15 and 22 January 2026 to be considered for funding.

Step 1: Explore the 6 challenges

Start by reading the challenge briefs and the Social Purpose Innovation Fund application guide (Word 65KB).

Each challenge has its own focus, requirements and funding context.

• Find a challenge that you’d love to respond to.
• See if you’re eligible to apply.
• Join the information webinar on 16 October 2025 to learn more and ask questions.
• Attend the relevant drop-in session for the challenge you’re interested in.
• Would a conversation be easier? Book a slot with the fund manager.

If you have any questions, email us at spif@arts.ac.uk.

Step 2: Develop your proposal

If you’re interested in taking part, but don’t have an idea or team yet, consider attending the collaboration workshop on 30 October 2025.

When developing your proposal, think about:

• how your project meets the objectives of the challenge brief
• what impact your project could have
• your collaborators’ roles and key project milestones
• how your proposal aligns with the project guidelines.

Step 3: Get buy-in and approval

Before submitting, make sure your project has the right backing:

• UAL staff: approval from your line manager and director or dean.
• UAL students: approval from your course leader.
• Ensure that you have buy-in from key stakeholders before applying.
• Consider what local administrative support you may require to deliver your project.

This ensures you have the support and capacity to deliver your project.

Step 4: Submit by 5 December 2025

Apply for the Social Purpose Innovation Fund.

Submit your application before the deadline of 11.59pm on 5 December. Late submissions cannot be accepted.

We may be in touch with you after you apply to ask questions or check eligibility.

Step 5: Participatory review process

In January 2026, proposals will be reviewed through a participatory grant-making process. This means that applicants and a group of UAL staff and students will come together in-person and decide how to allocate the available funds.

It’s mandatory for a representative from each project to attend 2 half-day meetings on 15 and 22 January. At these sessions, applicants will pitch their proposals in a short presentation.

Download the Social Purpose Innovation Fund application guide (Word 65KB) for more information on the fund process and administrative requirements.

Read the Social Purpose Innovation Fund pilot findings (PDF 115KB).