EDI Services Funding
All Schools, Professional Services departments, Staff Networks and individuals are invited to bid for funding to carry out activities aligned with progressing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) priorities at Loughborough.
The Loughborough University Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Services Fund is a central initiative that provides financial support for activities that champion equity, diversity, and inclusion across our university community. This fund aims to facilitate impactful EDI work undertaken by both staff and students and promote engagement to drive the institution's commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community. Funded projects should enable, or meaningfully contribute, to one or more of the strategic aims and objectives of the EDI Core Plan.
There will be two funding rounds per academic year; for the 2025/26 academic year, the first-round closes on November 10th, 2025, and the second on January 12th, 2026.
If you have any further questions, please contact edi@lboro.ac.uk
1. Who can apply?
All current Loughborough staff members and registered students (undergraduate or postgraduate) are eligible to apply for EDI Services Funding. Individual, group, and collaborative projects are all considered, though collaborative initiatives are particularly encouraged.
Applications with student organisers must be linked to a recognised Loughborough group, e.g. a student society, sports club, academic department, or similar. Applications by individual students are not eligible. Alternative sources of funding are available via different pathways at the university.
2. Restrictions to the scheme
Please note the following restrictions to the service fund:
- Any items or initiatives booked or purchased before EDI Funding is approved will not be reimbursed.
- No activity will be funded if it constitutes the usual activities of the department/service/ School and falls within the remit of their expected role.
- Activity will not be funded if it needs recurring funding. There may be an exception to recurring funding where the activity forms part of yearly celebration, or engagement event.
- Any submission should first have explored departmental/their own internal funding sources before submitting an EDI Services funding application.
- All departmental or internal funding options should be explored before submitting an application for EDI Services funding. If you have received external funding, you can request a "top-up" amount from the EDI Services fund.
- Funding cannot be provided to pay students or staff to undertake activities, apart from where this is linked to a project, with identified deliverables.
- The fund cannot be used to allow current students or staff to attend conferences or external events.
- The fund cannot be used for building works to make buildings more accessible.
- Reasonable adjustments for an individual’s study and or work cannot be funded through EDI Services funding.
- The fund will not approve funding for activity where the timeline does not allow for adequate planning, data collection and evaluation.
- The fund will not pay for any form of PhD research or equipment.
3. Application Process
The EDI Services fund will be disbursed following a formal application, subject to review by a panel comprising members from EDI Services and externals, who will assess it against the established criteria.
Can I appeal a decision?
The decision communicated to applicants is final. Where your application has been unsuccessful, you will receive feedback outlining where the criteria has not been met. Subject to section 2 above, you may be able to reapply following re-submission of a revised application.
4. How do I apply?
You can apply to for the November funding round using the Microsoft form found here: https://forms.office.com/e/iinwvYJzRV
Applications for the first funding round are open until Monday 10 November.
If you would like to discuss the application process in more detail, you can book a spot at one of our drop-in sessions on the following dates:
- Wednesday, 23 October , 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
- Thursday, 6 November , 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
- Thursday, 8 January , 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Please email edi@lboro.ac.uk to book a slot.
5. How much money can I bid for?
There’s no set minimum or maximum amount you can request. However, your request should match the size of your project scope. Please note, that the fund is limited, so larger requests are less likely to be awarded.
6. What is the funding timeline?
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Autum Term 25/26 |
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Spring Term 25/26 |
Info Drop-In |
Wednesday 23rd October 10am-11am
Thursday 6th November 2pm-3pm
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Thursday 8th January 10am-11am |
Closing Date |
10 November |
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12 January |
Decision communicated to applicants |
W/c 24th November
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W/c 26th January
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Spend to be completed by |
End of July 2026 |
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End of July 2026 |
7. How is your application assessed?
All applications will be evaluated against a set of scoring criteria that has been formally pre-agreed and ratified by the selection panel. These criteria were collaboratively developed by EDI Services and external stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive, objective, and equitable assessment process.
8. Impact and Evaluation
As a condition of funding, every project awarded must complete an evaluation, detailing key outputs and outcomes, within four weeks of its conclusion.
9. EDI Services Funding Project Briefs
In the 25/25 Academic Year, we funded 10 projects led by staff and students across Loughborough. Some examples include:
- We Are Loughborough
- Breaking Barriers: Addressing Ageism and Fostering Inclusive Workplaces at Universities
- Neurodiversity in Research
- Reflective practice workshop(s) on the support needs of disabled athletes in high performance sport