New research facilities and equipment, supported accommodation, science laboratories, hospices and a virtual museum are some of the projects awarded a share of over £14 million from the Wolfson Foundation.
In our latest funding round, we have awarded over 70 capital grants across science, health, arts and education in all four nations of the UK.
The University of St Andrews receives £2 million for research on green hydrogen technologies with the potential to decarbonise the energy and chemical industries and support the UK’s transition to Net Zero. The construction of a unique facility, the Green Hydrogen Accelerator, will provide a dedicated space for research, development, testing and evaluation of these innovative technologies.
The new biomedical imaging equipment will support Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport’s MRI scanner, seen here. Credit: Manchester Metropolitan University.
Elsewhere, Manchester Metropolitan University receives its first award from the Foundation, £400,000 for new equipment within their biomedical imaging laboratory (ACTIVE) in its Institute of Sport. The equipment will support ongoing and new research into human movement across the life course, and particularly the changes affecting people with conditions such as dementia, diabetes and Parkinson’s.
We are pleased to support cultural heritage projects, spanning libraries, archives, historic buildings, performing arts organisations, as well as museums and galleries. Funding will help support projects that increase accessibility to valuable collections and heritage sites throughout the UK. In Carlisle, Tullie museum will use their £350,000 grant to create new learning, education and gallery spaces to transform visitor experience on site. In the digital space, we are supporting the National Paralympic Heritage Trust in developing a virtual museum to showcase their collections.
Museum trainees from National Paralympic Heritage Trust sharing their early virtual museum development work. Photo Vicky Hope-Walker / National Paralympic Heritage Trust.
In this round, we have awarded over £1.4 million to 21 schools for facilities for science, design & technology, computer science, food technology, performing arts and music. This includes supporting Castell Alun High School in Wales to acquire computing equipment and robotics software, fostering the development of students’ programming and technical skills at GCSE and A Level.
Samaritans will use their grant to upgrade their national helpline infrastructure. Credit Chris O’Donovan Photography / Samaritans
A number of specialist mental health charities also feature in our latest awards. In Belfast, Nexus, a charity which supports people impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships, will use their grant of £72,000 to refurbish their headquarters, creating a comfortable environment in which to provide counselling. Meanwhile, Samaritans will use their grant to upgrade their national helpline infrastructure, providing much-needed support for people in distress.
View a map of the Foundation’s latest funding.
Read more about our funding for places.
Top image: Students at Castell Alun High School.
