The Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre runs an annual Early Career Researcher (ECR) Development Fund for research that aligns with the Centre’s programme of work, values and principles.
The Fund aims to build research capacity and capability to tackle current and emerging challenges related to vulnerability and policing. It seeks to widen the reach of the Centre’s work, enabling early career researchers to lead co-produced pioneering projects that contribute new findings and insights. It supports research in areas where knowledge gaps are most prominent and where research benefits offer the greatest value.
Research grants of up to £25,000 for 12-month projects are available. The Centre provides support to the successful applicants to maximise the reach and impact of their research.
ECR Development Fund for 2026
The ECR Development Fund for 2026 is now open for applications. Research grants of up to £25,000 are available for 12-month projects commencing February 2026.
This is a vulnerability and policing open call. We welcome applications on any relevant topic (see guidance), and reserve one award to be focused on:
- Vulnerability in drugs markets (Dr Leah Moyle Commemorative Award)
Proposed projects need to align with the ESRC Vulnerability and Policing Futures Research Centre’s programme of work and values and principles.
The application form and budget template are available on our Early Career Researcher Development Fund Guidance webpage.
Read frequently asked questions about the Fund.
The deadline for applications is Monday 29 September 2025, 4pm BST.
Webinar
Watch a webinar that provides information about the ECR Development Fund for 2026 and the application process.
Previous ECR Development Fund calls
The Centre received a wide range of high-quality applications in its first two calls. Read about the completed and existing funded projects:
ECR Development Fund for 2023
- Domestic Abuse Service Providers and their Stories – Dr Rebecca Shaw (University of Leeds)
- Reducing Barriers to Reporting Public Sexual Harassment to the Police: Towards Procedural Justice for Racially Minoritised Vulnerable Young Women and Girls – Dr Nadia Jessop (University of York)
- Social Media-Facilitated Trafficking of Children and Young People – Dr Laura Pajón (Liverpool John Moores University)
- Who matters? A collaborative co-investigation of who needs to be included, according to families with children with explosive and controlling impulses – Dr Nikki Rutter (Durham University)
ECR Development Fund for 2024
- Policing and community resilience in the context of climate change – Dr Ali Malik (University of Leeds)
- Policing collective coercion: improving understandings of coercive control in honour-based violence and abuse – Dr Lis Bates (University of Central Lancashire)
- Recognising the Risks and Harms for Repeat Missing Children from Different Residential Environments through a Child and Practitioner Lens – Dr Kirsty Bennett (Leeds Trinity University)
- Roma Voices for Change: Identifying and managing child exploitation in Roma communities within Bradford – Dr Sarah Shorrock (University of Bradford)
ECR Development Fund for 2025
- Stop and search and the reproduction of social inequality – Dr Thiago Oliveira (University of Manchester)
- Policing sextortion: improving understanding of the nature, extent and experiences of (re)victimisation – Dr Emily Cooper (University of Central Lancashire)
- Developing an Evidence-Based Interviewing Approach for Ethnically Diverse Missing Persons Investigations – Dr Alejandra De La Fuente Vilar (University of Portsmouth)
- Experiences of and responses to intimate partner stalking in the lives of young people aged 13-19 years – Dr Kelly Bracewell (University of Central Lancashire)
- Redefining vulnerability: Critically examining risk and protective factors in the context of romance fraud – Dr Jo Kenrick (University of Greenwich)