Applications Open: Small Research Grants for Animal Welfare

Deadline: 01-Oct-2026

The Small Research Grants programme provides funding of up to £5,000 for scientific research that improves understanding of animal welfare and contributes to better approaches for addressing welfare challenges. The programme supports research involving farmed, companion, laboratory, captive wild, and free-living wild animals affected by human activities. Researchers from any country may apply if they can demonstrate relevant expertise in animal welfare science. Funding can support research that generates new knowledge about animals’ needs, welfare conditions, and practical approaches to improving animal well-being. Overview of the Small Research Grants The Small Research Grants programme supports scientific research focused on animal welfare. The programme is intended for researchers who want to investigate questions relating to: - Animal needs. - Animal welfare conditions. - Causes of poor welfare. - Welfare assessment. - Human impacts on animals. - Approaches to improving animal well-being. The grants are suitable for relatively small-scale research projects that can make a meaningful contribution to the scientific understanding of animal welfare. Purpose of the Programme The main purpose of the Small Research Grants is to advance scientific knowledge about animal welfare. Supported research should help researchers and practitioners better understand: - What animals need for good welfare. - Which conditions negatively affect animal welfare. - How welfare problems can be identified and assessed. - How human activities influence animal welfare. - What interventions may improve welfare. - How animal welfare knowledge can be applied in practice. Funding Amount The programme provides grants of up to: £5,000 The funding is intended to support eligible research activities that contribute to animal welfare science. Applicants should develop a realistic research budget that clearly connects requested costs with the proposed research activities. What Animal Research Areas Are Supported? The programme welcomes research involving a broad range of animals.

Eligible research may focus on:

- Farmed animals - Companion animals - Laboratory animals - Captive wild animals - Free-living wild animals Research involving free-living wild animals may be particularly relevant where their welfare is affected by human activities. Farmed Animal Welfare Research Research can address welfare challenges affecting animals raised for agricultural purposes.

Potential areas may include:

- Living conditions. - Behaviour. - Environmental enrichment. - Welfare assessment. - Management practices. - Human-animal interactions. Companion Animal Welfare Research Research may also examine welfare issues affecting companion animals.

Possible topics include:

- Behavioural needs. - Housing conditions. - Human-animal relationships. - Welfare assessment. - Responsible care. - Factors affecting quality of life. Laboratory Animal Welfare Research Projects involving laboratory animals may investigate scientific questions related to their welfare, including conditions and practices that influence their well-being. Captive Wild Animal Welfare Research may focus on wild animals kept in captivity and examine how captive environments affect their physical and behavioural welfare. Free-Living Wild Animal Welfare The programme also recognizes welfare questions involving free-living wild animals. Projects can examine situations where human activities negatively affect the welfare of wild animals. Who Is Eligible? Researchers from any country may apply.

However, applicants must demonstrate:

- Relevant expertise in animal welfare. - The scientific ability to conduct the proposed research. - A clear research question or objective. - A credible approach to answering the research question. - A connection between the proposed research and animal welfare. International eligibility may be subject to restrictions arising from sanctions or other circumstances beyond the funder’s control. What Makes a Strong Research Proposal? A strong proposal should clearly establish: A Relevant Animal Welfare Problem Explain the welfare issue being investigated and why it matters. A Clear Research Question State exactly what the research will investigate. Scientific Value Explain how the project will improve or expand existing knowledge. Practical Relevance Where appropriate, show how the findings could contribute to improved animal welfare practices, policies, interventions, or future research. Feasible Methodology The research design should be realistic given the available funding and resources. Why the Small Research Grants Matter Animal welfare decisions should be supported by reliable scientific evidence. Small research grants can help researchers investigate focused questions that may otherwise struggle to obtain funding.

The programme can contribute to:

- Better understanding of animal needs. - Improved welfare assessment. - Identification of welfare problems. - Development of welfare interventions. - Evidence-based animal care. - Further scientific research. - Greater understanding of human impacts on animals. How to Apply

Step 1: Identify the Animal Welfare Question

Start with a clearly defined welfare problem or knowledge gap. Explain why the issue requires further scientific investigation.

Step 2: Define the Research Objective

State what the project intends to discover, measure, compare, or evaluate.

Step 3: Select the Appropriate Animal Population

Clearly identify whether the research concerns: - Farmed animals. - Companion animals. - Laboratory animals. - Captive wild animals. - Free-living wild animals.

Step 4: Develop the Research Method

Describe how the research question will be investigated. The methodology should be scientifically appropriate and achievable within the project’s available resources.

Step 5: Explain the Expected Contribution

Describe how the research will improve knowledge about animal welfare. Where applicable, e