ACCESS
ACCESS - Advancing Capacity for Climate and Environment Social Science
View of the 2025 Assembly

ACCESS Assembly Equity Fund

The ACCESS Assembly Equity Fund provides limited financial support to attendees for travel, accommodation and other expenses.

Please note, entrance to the event and all meals from 12pm on Wednesday 17 June to 4pm on Thursday 18 June are free.

The Equity Fund can offer support with accommodation, travel to and from the event, subsistence and other costs, such as childcare, for those with limited financial means.

Closing date for Assembly Registration is Friday 27 February at 5 pm.

You will receive confirmation of funding and a place by the end of March.

Widening participation

Last year’s evaluation report identified that there was greater ethnic diversity at the 2025 Assembly than in previous years, which we are keen to maintain. The report also highlighted we could increase diversity further by enabling attendance among people with these personal or professional characteristics: 

  • People aged under 40 years 
  • People from a working-class background 
  • People who have a faith/religion 
  • People from the LGBTQIA+ community  
  • People with a ‘marginalised’ ethnicity or heritage (e.g. Black, Asian, Roma, Jewish) 
  • Academics who identify as Early Career (including PhD students) 
  • People working in the charitable or private sector 
  • People who are based in regions of the UK outside of London, South-East England and South-West England 

Equity Fund criteria

We will assess applications across 4 criteria:

  • Demonstrated financial need — clarity and reasonableness of budget; limited alternative funding 
  • Inclusivity alignment — supports participation among people from underrepresented groups (relating to age, class, religion, sexuality and ethnicity) 
  • Career stage & opportunity — priority to PhD/ECRs, first-time attendees, people working in the charitable or private sectors, and/or people based in regions other than London, South-East England and South-West England 
  • Contribution/benefit — value to research community and applicant’s career trajectory 

Applying to the Fund

To apply for the Equity Fund, please use the registration link in your Assembly invite email.

A preview of the registration form can be found here

You will be asked to provide information about what expenses you would like to be considered for funding and rough estimates of cost.

We also ask for a short supporting statement (maximum 150 words) explaining why you are applying for financial help and how attendance will benefit your research/work and/or career. You can also indicate if you fall into any of the groups we have identified as under-represented.  

More information

For more information about the Assembly venue, location and programming, please click here.

And if you have any questions about the Equity Fund or this year’s Assembly, please email: access_admin@exeter.ac.uk