Introduction
The Seabird Group has the facility to award small grants each year to help with costs associated with research projects, or with survey projects for the UK national seabird census. Grants can cover travel, subsistence, and equipment, but staff costs are excluded. Priority is given to Seabird Group members working on Atlantic seabirds. We also award training grants to help support people to undertake voluntary seabird activities
Research Grant
The Seabird Group funds 5-6 research grants each year. The maximum amount awarded per grant is £500. In the past research grants have been given towards ringing studies, productivity assessments, seawatching projects, and tracking studies, often in the UK but also abroad, e.g. in Portugal or Cabo Verde.
More information can be found on the Research Grants guidelines (link below). Applications should be submitted, preferably in electronic form, to the Secretary using the official application form available below. Applications should reach the secretary prior to the following dates: 31st October and 28/29th February. Following these dates, all applications will be circulated round the Committee and decisions taken. We aim to inform applicants of the outcome of their application within six weeks of these dates.
Research Report
Successful applicants for both research and census grants will be required to produce a short report on their work for the Seabird Group Newsletter. Any publication relating to the project results should state that a contribution to costs was awarded from the Seabird Group. The grant must be used for the purposes stated on the application form. The grant must be returned to the Seabird Group if not used by the applicant for the specific project. Details of expenditure and receipts for major items should be available for inspection if needed.
If you have any queries or need further information please contact the secretary. secretary@seabirdgroup.org.uk
Training Grant
Training grants provide up to £250 for individuals to use towards travel, accommodation and subsistence in order to undertake unpaid seabird-focussed fieldwork or volunteering. Training grants are aimed at people with limited or no previous experience with seabirds, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds or those who have faced increased barriers to gaining experience. Therefore, no previous experience is required. Seabird fieldwork is often unpaid and can be expensive, but field skills are highly sought after and can be key for future career opportunities. We hope that this grant will enable people to undertake such activities who may not otherwise be able to afford it.
Grants are for a maximum of £250 to spend on costs incurred during volunteering, such as travel, accommodation and subsistence. You must be 18 or over to apply for this grant as unfortunately we are unable to offer any safeguarding measures. Your experience must take place in the same year that you submit the application. You must have contacted an individual or organisation and confirmed that they are willing to supervise you before submitting this application. However, if you have applied for a position and do not yet know if you have been selected, we encourage you to apply for this grant. Please let us know the outcome of your application as soon as possible. Unfortunately, we will only be able to offer you grant if you secure the position you have applied for, as the role you will be undertaking and the skills you hope to gain during your training are key to our assessment of applications. Examples of activities that you might partake in include (but are not limited to): a stay at a bird observatory with ongoing interests in seabirds, attending a seabird ringing trip (you will likely need some general bird ringing experience for this option), helping with a research project, or volunteering at a seabird-focussed nature reserve. Please see our online list of suggestions here: [Seabird field experience suggestions]
To apply for a training grant, please fill out an application form: [Training grant application]. Paper forms are available on request. The application form will open in early January, with a deadline of 28th February. Applications will be reviewed by The Seabird Group committee members and an outcome received within 6 weeks following the deadline. For a paper form or any other enquiries, please email Lila Buckingham on edi@seabirdgroup.org.uk.