The BSSH is committed to supporting new research in sport history, and developing its dissemination. Competitive funding applications for the following are offered on a regular basis. (full details further down the page).
UPDATE 14 May 2020: Due to the ongoing limitations and challenges imposed by COVID-19, the BSSH Board has closed applications for 2020. We currently expect to resume with the next regular round, in January 2021. Additional grants will be made available at this time (a funding "rollover" from 2020).
Research Grants for Postgraduates (up to £500) – CLOSED
Grants are available to current postgraduate researchers (PhD or Masters level) to help them undertake new original primary research in any area of sports history (for example, supporting a research trip to an archive). They are not intended to support conference attendance, subsistence costs or to support existing projects within a higher/further education institution.
Deadlines: 31 January and 30 August every year.
Research Grants for Early Career Researchers (up to £500) – CLOSED
Grants are available to researchers within 3 years of the award of their PhD to help them undertake new original primary research in any area of sports history (for example, supporting a research trip to an archive). They are not intended to support conference attendance, subsistence during travel, or existing projects within a higher/further education institution. Grants are awarded twice per year.
Deadlines: 31 January and 30 August every year.
Conference Panel Grants – CLOSED
Grants to support multiple members of the BSSH to present a sport history panel at a conference, with the value of the award dependent upon the conference location (UK/Europe/rest of world).
Deadline: 31 January each year. This funding is only open for applications once per year.
Small Events Funding (up to £500 per event) – CLOSED
Funding is available for research dissemination events which are consistent with the interests and aims of BSSH, or demonstrate the intention to enhance integration of sport history with other sub-disciplines.
Deadlines: 31 January and 30 August every year.
BSSH Research Grants for Post-Graduates
Award: Up to £500
Closing Date: 31 January 2020 (1700 UK time)
Eligibility: This award is open for anyone undertaking Postgraduate work (including Masters- and Doctoral-level study). It is only open to members of the BSSH.
Parameters of the award:
The award is intended to help an individual undertake new original primary research in any area of sports history, which may lead to a demonstrable output in support of the charity’s goals (including publications). The fund may be used for, inter alia, research trips to archive (in UK and Abroad). Funding is not intended to support trips to conferences, the hosting of, or attendance at, public events, the cost of food/drink while on research trips, capital expenditure, joint research projects with established academics, or already established academic projects within a higher/further education institution (including Master’s or Doctoral study). Applications for projects costing more than £500 will be considered, however, only a maximum of £500 will be reimbursed. The BSSH Trustees reserve the right to split the award should more than one project be deemed worthy of funding.
Application procedure: Requests for funding should be sent to the BSSH Postgraduate/ECR representative (conor.heffernan@austin.utexas.edu) by 31 January 2020. Applications will then be considered at the Trustee meetings. You will be informed of the outcome of your application in February.
Your application should specify:
* an outline of the project and its importance for Sport History
* a budget of the project
* the amount requested
* details of other bodies funding the project
In addition to the application form, you are asked to submit a CV and a short written reference or letter of support for your project from a supervisor (for postgraduates), mentor or other academic.
Requirements for successful bidders:
Successful bidders are to supply receipts for any award amount claimed. Any successful bidders are required to produce a report for the BSSH, which may be published online, about how funds have been used. Successful bidders are required to recognise the help provided by the BSSH in all material disseminated relating to the project, including journal articles, public presentations etc., as stipulated by the Board of Trustees of the BSSH.
Funding:
Finances from the award will be paid to the recipient retrospectively following the completion of the project/research trip, upon receipt of a full expenses claim.
Please address any questions in the first instance to Conor Heffernan (BSSH Postgraduate/ECR Representative) at conor.heffernan@austin.utexas.edu
Forms:
BSSH Research Grants for Early Career Researchers
Award: Up to £500
Closing Date: 31 January 2020 (1700 UK time)
Eligibility: This award is open for anyone within 3 years of the award of their Doctoral degree. It is only open to members of the BSSH. BSSH Trustees may not apply for this award.
Parameters of the award:
The award is intended to help an individual undertake new original primary research in any area of sports history, which may lead to a demonstrable output in support of the charity’s goals (including publications). The fund may be used for, inter alia, research trips to archive (in UK and Abroad). Funding is not intended to support trips to conferences, the hosting of, or attendance at, public events, the cost of food/drink while on research trips, capital expenditure, joint research projects with established academics, or already established academic projects within a higher/further education institution. Applications for projects costing more than £500 will be considered, however, only a maximum of £500 will be reimbursed. The BSSH Trustees reserve the right to split the award should more than one project be deemed worthy of funding.
Application procedure: Requests for funding should be sent to the BSSH Postgraduate/ECR representative (conor.heffernan@austin.utexas.edu) by 31 January 2020. Applications will then be considered at the Trustee meetings. You will be informed of the outcome of your application in February.
Your application should specify:
* an outline of the project and its importance for Sport History
* a budget of the project
* the amount requested
* details of other bodies funding the project
In addition to the application form, you are asked to submit a CV and a short written reference or letter of support for your project from a supervisor (for postgraduates), mentor or other academic.
Requirements for successful bidders:
Successful bidders are to supply receipts for any award amount claimed. Any successful bidders are required to produce a report for the BSSH, which may be published online, about how funds have been used. Successful bidders are required to recognise the help provided by the BSSH in all material disseminated relating to the project, including journal articles, public presentations etc., as stipulated by the Board of Trustees of the BSSH.
Funding:
Finances from the award will be paid to the recipient retrospectively following the completion of the project/research trip, upon receipt of a full expenses claim.
Please address any questions in the first instance to Conor Heffernan (BSSH Postgraduate/ECR Representative) at conor.heffernan@austin.utexas.edu
Forms:
BSSH Conference Grants for Panels
Award: Up to £500 (UK conferences), up to £750 (Rest of Europe conferences), or up to £1000 (US / Rest of World conferences), to be split between panellists as they see fit
Closing Date: 31 January 2020 (1700 UK time)
Eligibility: All panellists must be members of the BSSH
Parameters of the award:
These grants are designed to assist BSSH members with the cost of attending conferences / symposia / workshops, as part of a joint BSSH panel. Applications for any event will be considered: applications will be judged on merit based on the extent to which they are seen to promote the study of sports history, particularly within the British context.
The maximum amount which can be claimed is as follows:
UK-based events: £500
Rest of Europe-based events: £750
US / Rest of World events: £1000
(BSSH will award up to a maximum of £1500 in any one funding round, at the Board’s discretion.)
Panellists can decide between themselves how the money is split. Applications may include costs above this amount, however, no grant will be awarded above the stated maximum for each region.
Individuals may not apply. The money must be used to fund a panel, not an individual’s attendance at a conference. Applications for financial assistance with attending the BSSH’s own annual conference will also not be considered.
The money can be spent on any aspect of conference attendance which the panellists wish. Examples would be: travel costs, registration fees, accommodation, the cost of joining the Society which is organising the conference, attendance at the conference dinner.
Submissions will only be accepted from current BSSH members at the deadline of each award. Submissions made by non-members at the deadline for each award will not be considered. Those who successfully gain an award may not submit a proposal in the next funding round.
Should the panel be rejected by the conference organisers after an application is accepted by BSSH, the funding will not be awarded. Applicants will need to reapply for each subsequent conference even if the named panellists are the same.
Application procedure:
Applications should be sent to the BSSH Past Chair Matt McDowell (matthew.mcdowell@ed.ac.uk) by 31 January 2020 (17:00 UK time). Applications will then be considered by a panel of judges, with final decisions approved by the Trustee Board. You will be informed of the outcome of your application by 1 March 2020.
The application process will only run once a year, so applicants are encouraged to plan ahead.
Applications should specify:
- Details of the conference / other event for which the funding is being requested
- A list of all panel members along with the anticipated theme of the panel
- An outline of how the panel will contribute to the study of sports history
- A budget for attendance at the conference, including all expected costs
- Details of any other funding applied for in conjunction with the conference
- Details of how the panellists plan to maximise publicity for the BSSH before, during and after the conference
Requirements for successful bidders:
Successful bidders are to supply receipts for any award amount claimed. They are required to recognise the help provided by the BSSH in all material disseminated relating to the conference, including the conference programme.
During the conference, bidders will be expected to do the following:
- Mention BSSH at the start of the panel
- Include the BSSH logo on their Powerpoint slides
- Distribute BSSH flyers during the panel (and at other points during the conference, if appropriate)
- Post tweets during the conference using the official event hashtag, referencing the BSSH Twitter account (@BritSportHisSoc)
After the conference concludes, successful bidders are also required to produce a report for the BSSH, which may be published online, about the conference (or other event). The help given by BSSH should also be recognised in any publications resulting from the conference.
Funding:
Finances from the award will be paid to the recipients retrospectively following the completion of the conference, upon receipt of a full expenses claim. Please address any questions to Matt McDowell (BSSH Past Chair) (matthew.mcdowell@ed.ac.uk).
Forms:
Small Events Funding
Award: Up to £500
Deadline: 31 January 2020 (1700 UK time)
The BSSH offers funding for research dissemination events. Guidelines for funding applications are as follows:
Application process and submission:
- The application form and claim form are only available by download below
- Completed applications must be submitted via email attachment to Matt McDowell (matthew.mcdowell@ed.ac.uk).
- Applications will be considered on a case by case basis
- A panel of three, to include non-executive members will be convened for this purpose by an Executive member of BSSH with conference experience
- To be eligible, applications for first and second funding rounds must be received by the last Friday in September and the last Friday in January respectively
- Applicants must provide a breakdown of key expenditure to allow informed decisions re: aspects of the event best suited for BSSH support
- Where appropriate, alternative or additional funding sources will be advised to applicants
- Awards will be notified, approved and minuted at BSSH Executive meetings
- Evidence of expenditure must be submitted to the Treasurer for reimbursement within 28 days of the event
Conditions:
- Applications should be consistent with the interests and aims of BSSH or demonstrate intention to enhance integration of sport history with other sub-disciplines
- Available funds per annum: £1500 divided between two application rounds (£750 per round)
- Unspent money from each round will be carried over to the subsequent round
- An upper award limit of £500 is available to applicants within issued guidelines
- Partial support, not complete funding of any event may be provided
- Applications must demonstrate ability to generate independent funding sources (e.g., via registration fees; other participating bodies; home institution)
- Whilst reasonable conference expenses are eligible (e.g., speaker travel expenses) fees payable to speakers are not eligible for funding
- Events in receipt of funding must undertake to explicitly acknowledge BSSH support and distribute publicity materials to delegates as appropriate
Applications for the current round of funding close at 1700 (UK time), 31 January 2020.
Forms: