UKRI Gambling Harms Research Coordination Centre (GHRCC) (Grant)

To lead a project, you must be based at an eligible organisation. Check if your organisation is eligible.

Who is eligible to apply

This is a UKRI funding opportunity led by Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). It is open to the research and innovation communities of all UKRI research councils and Innovate UK.

Standard UKRI eligibility requirements will apply. To host the award your organisation must be:

• a UK academic higher education institution (HEI)

• an independent research organisation (IRO) recognised by UKRI

• a UK registered business that can demonstrate the capacity to lead and manage a significant research and innovation project

Third sector institutions can act as partners and collaborating organisations.

To ensure that the project is suitably interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary, the core team leading the Centre should include representatives from across UKRI’s research and innovation communities.

In line with UKRI’s Technicians Commitment, named project staff and investigators may include technicians contributing to the intellectual leadership and management of a project.

Who is not eligible to apply

The following organisations are not eligible to host the award:

• government and third sector organisations

• Gambling Commission operating license holders subject to the levy

See our funding guide for further information on institutional and individual contractual eligibility requirements for investigators.

Applications must be consortia based and must bring together diverse people, institutions, expertise, experiences, places, and wider stakeholders. This includes people with lived and learned experience from gambling and gambling related harms.

By lived experience, we mean people with direct experience of gambling related harms. Partnerships with non-HEI organisations and people across the third sector, community groups, industry, and the public sector are essential.

These can take different forms including project partners or collaborating organisations. You must demonstrate how the partnerships within your consortium are equitable, have contributed to the development of your application including its conceptualisation, and will help the centre achieve its aims.

International project co-leads and project co-leads from UK business, civil society, community, or government bodies are eligible and their eligible costs will be funded at 100% full economic cost (FEC). However, their combined costs together with the amount requested for the flexible funding budget must not exceed 30% of the overall cost of the project.

This limit only applies to costs associated with co-project leads and the flexible funding budget and does not restrict your ability to extend further support to enable participation through, for example, funding travel costs for participants. However, these additional costs would be funded at the standard 80% FEC.

Early and mid-career researchers

We recognise that it is likely the successful application will be led by experienced researchers who are internationally recognised, with proven ability to deliver a large-scale project successfully and lead an investment of this nature. However, you should carefully consider the balance of your proposed teams to ensure there is a mix of people with varied expertise and at different career stages.

Your core team must include early career researchers and have clear plans for their development.

International researchers

UKRI’s international project co-lead policy applies to this funding opportunity. If you are a researcher based outside of the UK, you can be named as ‘project co-lead (international)’ if you meet the eligibility criteria for international project co-leads. See our funding guide for further information.

Your application must be submitted by an eligible UK-based researcher. We expect the design of your application, plans for delivery, and dissemination to all be co-designed and delivered equitably between researchers and partners.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.

We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:

• career breaks

• support for people with caring responsibilities

• flexible working

• alternative working patterns

UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.

Scope

Context

In April 2023, the Department for Culture, Media, and Sports (DCMS) published a white paper setting out the government’s plans for modernising regulation of the gambling sector. One of the key proposals in the white paper is the introduction of a statutory levy on gambling operators.

Following a public consultation, which ran from 17 October to 14 December 2023, and an analysis of the responses to the consultation, the government will introduce a statutory levy charged to all licenced gambling activity, at varying levels depending on the sector and nature of the gambling activity to ensure impacts are proportionate.

The statutory levy was introduced via secondary legislation and commenced in April 2025 with funding flowing later that year. The levy will be collected and administered by the Gambling Commission under the strategic direction of the government, replacing the current system of voluntary industry contributions.

Levy funding will be directed in specific proportions for the purposes of research, prevention, and treatment. Each stream of the levy system will also have a central commissioner.  The streams are:

• research: 20% of funding to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Gambling Commission for the establishment of a bespoke research programme

• prevention: 30% of funding to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) to create a co-ordinated GB-wide approach to prevention

• treatment: 50% of funding to the NHS in England, Scotland, and Wales to commission treatment and support services

Within the stream of funding allocated to UKRI for the new Research Programme on Gambling (RPG), UKRI are commissioning a multi-disciplinary hub, called the Gambling Harms Research Coordination Centre (GHRCC).

This will coordinate a series of spokes, called the ‘Gambling Harms Research and Innovation Partnerships (GHRIP),’ intended to fill gaps in the existing evidence base, and assist UKRI in developing a research agenda following the introduction of the levy.

For more information on the background of this funding opportunity, go to the Additional Information section.

Gambling harms research coordination centre (GHRCC)

The UK government’s new Gambling Levy offers an innovative and exciting opportunity to fund interdisciplinary, relevant, and wide-ranging research to stimulate interest, capacity, and investment in the gambling research field.

The Gambling Harms Research Coordination Centre (GHRCC) is a significant opportunity to shape the field and make a major and lasting contribution to developing the UK’s understanding of gambling and gambling related harms.

The Centre will coordinate and maximise the impact of a range of activities commissioned by UKRI under the new gambling levy, including the GHRIPs, ensuring an integrated approach throughout. It will also be expected to lead, plan, deliver, and manage a multidisciplinary programme of research and devolved funding to identify gaps in the current evidence base, increase diversity, and expand the disciplinary reach of the gambling field.

This will require the Centre to build strong connections with a variety of stakeholders across research institutions, third sector organisations, internationally, and the general public, while facilitating the work and coordination of the GHRIPs.

These devolved awards will generate a rich and diverse portfolio of interdisciplinary research and innovation that directly engages with ongoing gambling research.

The Centre is expected to be a large-scale multi-institutional consortium with a considered approach to geographic spread, paying particular attention to the inclusion and involvement of devolved nations.

The Centre will bring together expertise from academic, industry, policy communities, and people with lived experience, working closely with cross-UKRI convened expert advice.

Gambling harms research and innovation partnerships (GHRIPs)

The Gambling Harms Research Innovation and Partnerships (GHRIPs) are being commissioned through a separate two-stage funding opportunity. It will act as a network to address critical gaps in the evidence base and support the development of innovative, stakeholder-informed responses to gambling-related harms.

These partnerships will act as thematic spokes within a wider research ecosystem, working collaboratively with a central coordination hub to generate actionable insights, build research capacity, and inform policy and practice across the UK.

Each GHRIP will develop and implement a programme of activity and devolved funding that will directly engage with the priorities of the UKRI Research Programme on Gambling (RPG).

Interactions between the GHRIP network, relevant stakeholders, and wider initiatives will be coordinated and led by the GHRCC.

The GHRCC will play a crucial role in connecting GHRIPs to the research, learning, expertise, and evidence needed to inform effective responses to tackling gambling harms.

With the support of the GHRCC, GHRIPs will engage with a range of organisations and investments to support their work programme to source the data, insights, and expertise they require.

Each GHRIP will be awarded through a two-phase process. Phase two awards will provide up to £5 million (100% FEC) per project for a duration of up to four years, with projects expected to commence in October 2026.

During phase one, the GHRCC will support GHRIP applicants in developing their proposals, facilitating shared learning, alignment of thematic priorities, and early-stage coordination across the network.

See the full GHRIP opportunity.

Research themes

Research themes explored by the RPG will look to address these initial areas of focus. The GHRCC should look to deliver and coordinate activities that align with these areas. While these areas have been identified by UKRI, we are open to applications across a broader range of topics.

Intersectionality

How overlapping identities, for example, race, gender, disability, shape gambling experiences and harms. This can also include experiences and drivers of gambling related harms and help-seeking in marginalised communities, for example, those who may face higher risks of gambling harm but are under-represented in research and support services.

We are committed to ensuring that our programming on gambling-related harm actively considers intersectionality and the full range of protected characteristics, recognising that experiences of harm are shaped by overlapping social, economic, and cultural factors, and that effective responses must be inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the needs of diverse communities.

Structural drivers

The role of the systemic, environmental, and institutional factors that create conditions for harmful gambling behaviours including culture, demography, housing, urban or rural development, and digital inequality in gambling behaviour, risk, and experience of gambling harms or both.

Direct/lived experience

Individual risk factors, for example, mental health conditions, neurodivergence, trauma, financial precarity, housing insecurity and community-led research into gambling.

Digital gambling ecosystems

The impact of personalisation and targeted advertising, new and changing marketing practices, access to multiple online gambling accounts, loot boxes, cryptocurrency-based esports, and algorithmic design on users, including vulnerable users such as children and adolescents.

Preventive, protective, and recovery factors

Most research focuses on harm, not resilience, recovery, or preventative practices by a range of actors, whether at the local community level, to healthcare and educational environments, to gambling firms and online platforms.

Co-occurring issues

Including mental health, substance use, and financial hardship, as well as potential integrated treatment models. Applicants should also consider the impact of financial harms.

Aim

The GHRCC will convene across the research ecosystem to help connect GHRIPs to the pre-existing and ongoing research and expertise on gambling research and facilitate their varied research and partnerships.

The project lead of the application should have a collaborative mindset, and excellent leadership and management abilities. The leadership of this Centre will be expected to engage closely with academic, government, industry, and third sector stakeholders.

The Centre is expected to fulfil the following aims:

Coordination of GHRIPs

• coordinate the Gambling Harms Research and Innovation Partnerships (GHRIP) and strengthen collaborations between researchers and stakeholders, attracting resources for research, innovation, knowledge exchange, and skills

• facilitate connections between GHRIPs and UKRI-funded investments, and support policymakers at both UK and national levels to engage with GHRIP initiatives,

Own research

• deliver a multidisciplinary programme of devolved funding activities, and develop and run open opportunities for research projects that will directly engage with the priorities of UKRI’s Research Programme on Gambling (RPG)

• develop new methods and approaches in gambling research, ensuring that data is accessible and useable for a wide range of stakeholders

Scoping

• assess and determine what the UK needs in terms of research, research and data infrastructure, and skills to support the development of this research area, addressing emerging challenges, and forecasting potential future developments

• identify research challenges, opportunities, and priorities for the programme with users, academia, government, industry, and third-sector stakeholders that need to be addressed over the lifetime of the Centre

Governance

• co-design elements of the project with UKRI and the wider levy system during the initial stages of the Centre, incorporating any relevant research and policy inputs

• establish an appropriate management and governance model with effective monitoring and evaluation, and support early career researchers

• facilitate engagement with national government and policy stakeholders, providing access to policy intelligence, evidence, and GHRIP experts

Capacity building

• build future research capacity via a cohort of funded PhD studentships engaged in the work of the Centre, and develop a programme of training and development for students to support their research and future careers

• build multi and interdisciplinary capability by leveraging existing partnerships, establishing new ones, and increasing diversity within the field of gambling research to include a wider set of researchers and academic disciplines, including routes for early career researchers and mid-career researchers

• ensure inclusive public engagement through collaborative and consultative processes, representing people from different regions, backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs across the UK in the research

• develop a clear EDI plan in all aspects of the Centre’s work, that fosters an inclusive and equitable research environment, with tangible/measurable impacts and process for evaluation

Rapid evidence reviews

UKRI will be commissioning a suite of rapid evidence reviews to help identify evidence gaps within the research and innovation ecosystem.

These will be publicly available in early 2026, and the successful centre will be expected to incorporate the outputs of these reviews into their workplan.

Flexible funding pot

At least 20% of the Centre’s funds must be devoted to planning, delivering, and managing a multidisciplinary programme of devolved funding activities. Flexibly conceived, these opportunities can cover a wide variety of activities, such as:

• commissioning of research and/or reports to respond to identified evidence gaps or partner needs

• supporting the participation of groups or organisations not identified at the application stage

• utilising new opportunities for public engagement that go beyond dissemination to also include, for example, helping to shape agendas, co-creating outputs, and co-delivering the work of the Centre

• funding opportunities for early or mid-career researchers to deliver research or undertake training.

Flexible funding activities can be costed as ‘Exceptions’ at 100% FEC.

Please ensure that all costs related to flexible funding are marked/prefaced with the initials ‘FF’ so that these costs can be clearly distinguished from funds related to direct funding of the Centre.

The Centre is expected to demonstrate a commitment to open/inclusive engagement with relevant expertise and capabilities, as well as responding to opportunities to expand networks and collaboration as appropriate opportunities arise.

Note: The 20% flexible funding requirement for the Centre is distinct from the 40% flexible funding allocation expected in Phase two GHRIP awards. This reflects the differing roles and scopes of the hub and spoke investments.

Studentships

The Centre will be expected to fund and support one cohort of PhD students. The successful applicant will demonstrate the capacity to manage and support a cohort of a minimum of five students.

Funding should be provided for four-year studentships, with the expectation that students be supported so that they can undertake training and development opportunities and submit within that period.

PhD studentships will commence at similar times and the Centre should look to establish common threads between the various work packages taking place within the Centre, to enable collaboration and engagement between students, as a cohort.

Students should start no later than January 2027. Part-time studentships are permitted under this programme.

You will be expected to demonstrate that an established structure will be in place for the students to engage beyond working with their supervisors. The Centre can advertise specific projects but there should still be scope for recruited students to include their own interests and ideas.

Please Note: Costings for the studentship programme should be included in your application but will ultimately be awarded to the successful host research organisation as a separate doctoral training grant. This separate grant will include costs for stipends, fees and research training support (RTSG). Costings for other support including further individual or cohort student development activity should be included in the main award. This separate training grant is permitted to run beyond the end date of the centre award.

Costings should be calculated at the following indicative rates:

Indicative tuition fee rate: £5,006

Minimum stipend (outside London): £20,780

Minimum stipend (within London): £22,780

Uplift for Collaborative Doctoral Awards: £600

Research Training Support Grant (RTSG): £600

This is per annum, and you need to calculate based on four-year studentships. Please calculate on a flat rate, an uplift will be added to the training grant, as applicable.

If your studentship cohort has a mix of students based at universities within and outside London, we recommend you make an estimate of the split in cost and include this information in the ‘Associated project studentships’ section of the UKRI Funding Service form.

Similarly, if you intend to offer collaborative doctoral awards, you may include an additional £600 per annum for the estimated number of studentship awards.

Public engagement

We believe that effective, equitable, and two-way public engagement across the lifecycle of the Centre will be vital to its success.

Gambling is a widely popular leisure activity that plays a significant role in many people’s lives and is part of a growing and evolving sector. This makes research into gambling-related harms both timely and of broad public interest. Public engagement will be especially important in ensuring that the Centre reflects the diverse experiences, insights, and concerns of people affected by gambling in different ways. In particular, individuals with lived experience will offer essential perspectives that can shape the relevance, ethics, and impact of the Centre’s research.

Your application must clearly demonstrate:

• your overall vision for public engagement throughout the Centre with a particular focus on collaborative or consultative public engagement

• how you have engaged the public in the development of your application

• how you will continue to enable public participation in your project at every stage, including delivery, outcomes, and evaluation

• how you will evaluate the effectiveness of your public engagement activities and embed co-creation practices throughout the Centre’s lifecycle

UKRI is committed to breaking down the barriers between research, innovation, and society, with the three strategic goals of:

• building a sense of shared endeavour

• making sure the benefits of research and innovation are shared widely and supported by collaboration and diverse forms of knowledge

• creating opportunities for all by inspiring and engaging the next generation

Equitable partnerships

Partnerships within and beyond HEIs across the third sector, community groups, industry, and the public sector are essential for the Centre. These partnerships could be new or existing.

You have flexibility to work with potential partners in whatever way is best for that particular collaboration. This might be including them as project partners, or collaborating organisations that could, for example, help to deliver public engagement activity for the Centre.

Whichever form the partnership takes, we expect you to demonstrate in your application that the partnerships are equitable in nature. How they are equitable will depend on the nature of the collaboration and the needs of the partners involved.

As a minimum, we expect you to show how partners have supported the conceptualisation and development of the application and will contribute to the delivery and leadership of the Centre, how their knowledge, expertise, and time are being valued and supported, and how the relationship is mutually beneficial.

We are also keen to see evidence of how your institution will support these partnerships through, for example, flexibility in disbursement of funds, payment processes and practices which have often been raised as a barrier to participation, and engagement and capacity building beyond the work on the Centre.

With the exception of the allowance of project co-leads from UK business, our normal rules around project partners apply. Broadly, project partners are those organisations who would make a significant direct or in-kind contribution to the cost of the Centre.

Collaborating organisations are those whose costs would be covered by the grant provided by us.

We acknowledge that the use of the ‘project partner’ and ‘collaborating organisation’ terminology is problematic and can undermine the relationships you build up, particularly with those organisations and groups which would rely on the funding to enable their participation, but who are nonetheless essential to your proposed work.

We hope the inclusion of the additional types of project co-leads helps with this by providing the opportunity for both funding and recognition. Where this is not possible, we want to emphasise that the ‘project partner’ and ‘collaborating organisation’ terms are only used to help with the assessment where we need to confirm the validity of any proposed contributions.

When developing your application and in delivering your Centre, you are free to refer to your partners in whatever way best meets the needs of those partnerships.

Management and structure

Taking into account the requirements around EDI, public engagement, broad consortiums, and equitable partnerships, you should carefully consider the structure of your proposed Centre to ensure it is best positioned to successfully deliver meaningful and impactful progress against the three objectives.

The Centre will need to have clear plans for:

• how leadership will be managed across the collaboration, including the role that partners will play in leading the Centre

• how the management of the Centre and its activities will be carried out, including details of project management and administration resources

• succession of leadership and roles across and beyond the lifetime of the Centre, particularly with a view to the sustainability of the Centre

• how existing partnerships will be managed, and new partnerships explored in an effective, equitable, and sustainable way

Advisory group and project board

We will work with the appointed Centre to set up an advisory group. The terms of reference for the advisory group will be agreed with the Centre and the group itself, but we expect it will support the work of the centre through its knowledge and access to wider networks.

This includes having the expertise and links to guide and support the Centre with regards to aspects like public engagement, EDI, and equitable partnership development. This group will be a mix of academics, stakeholders, and policymakers, and will include a diverse group of people. The final membership will be agreed between AHRC and the appointed Centre. The group will meet at least three times a year and will use a mix of virtual, in-person and hybrid meetings.

The advisory group will feed into governance structures for the UKRI RPG and wider levy system.

The Centre will need to have clear plans for how it would make effective use of the advisory group. To avoid key partners being inundated with requests, you do not need to specify particular individuals or evidence their commitment to joining the group in your application.

The Centre will have to include capacity for organising and supporting the meetings and the costs will be covered by the Centre’s budget. Costs would include travel and subsistence for members attending meetings, as well as any other costs related to hosting the meeting such as venue, technology, and refreshments. We would advise budgeting for at least one in-person meeting a year. This should be factored into your application.

In addition, we will appoint a project board which will include the senior responsible owner in AHRC, the project lead for the Centre, and other members of AHRC and UKRI staff.

The project board will be responsible for monitoring the progress of the Centre and ensuring it delivers against our objectives. The board will meet monthly for the first three months before reviewing the frequency.

We anticipate reducing the frequency of the meetings to bi-monthly or quarterly after the start up period but will discuss with the appointed Centre. The meetings will use both virtual and in-person settings. We will be responsible for running this board, but you will need to budget for travel for the project lead to join at least two in person meetings at the UKRI office in Swindon per year.

Outcomes

Together, the GHRIPs and the GHRCC will support the following outcomes:

Expected outcomes include:

• creating stronger and more diverse partnerships by investing in the capability and capacity required for multi-partner collaboration, bringing the right stakeholders together at the right time

• enhancing understanding of thematic priorities by surfacing evidence gaps, stakeholder needs and opportunities for innovation through collaborative scoping and analysis

• increasing readiness for delivery by developing credible, co-designed models for phase two activity that reflect the scale, ambition and complexity of the challenge

• strengthening capacity for collaborative research by embedding inclusive, interdisciplinary approaches and supporting the involvement of underrepresented voices and sectors

• supporting collaboration across the GHRIP network by fostering shared learning, alignment of approaches and opportunities for joint activity, coordinated through the GHRCC

• embedding meaningful public and community engagement by involving people with lived experience and wider publics in shaping research priorities and approaches

• enhancing the evidence base to inform a future national strategy on the reduction of gambling harms

Impact

We are particularly keen to see clear, well evidenced plans for translating the work of the Centre and the GHRIPs into policy impacts and outcomes. These could be local, national, or international in scope and should draw on the priorities of relevant, for example, policy makers, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and community groups.

This work should be informed and supported by a robust programme of public engagement activities, particularly engaging people with lived experience.

You must demonstrate how you will deliver significant impact within and beyond research. As part of this you must include a logic model in your application demonstrating the changes the Centre will bring about, and how your Centre will bring about those changes.

Research ethics

You must ensure that the activities and research of the Centre will be carried out to a high ethical standard. Gambling and the themes and topics highlighted have the potential to be very sensitive and applicants are expected to have carefully considered all potential issues, safeguarding requirements, and best practice.

You must clearly state how any potential ethical, safeguarding, and health and safety issues have been considered and will be addressed, ensuring that all necessary ethical approval is in place and all risks are minimised before the centre commences. This is particularly important in the context of any planned public engagement activity and the involvement of people with lived experience, both of which may require specific consideration.

We encourage applicants to make use of relevant resources on UKRI’s Good Research Resource Hub.

Monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL)

We will work with the successful Centre to agree a monitoring and evaluation plan in the starting phase of the award. In addition to standard Research Fish reporting, this is likely to include light touch quarterly reporting, including providing data required for internal reporting mechanisms, and more detailed annual reporting which will also include studentships and awards made via flexible funding.

UKRI may also request for some form of interim and final evaluation or report.

We also expect to draw on the expertise of the Centre to respond to other internal and external ad hoc reporting requests. You should ensure your application includes sufficient staff time to support this.

You will need to demonstrate how you will measure progress against the Centre’s objectives and your own logic model, track impacts, and share learning with us and others. This should include plans for how the Centre will measure a baseline against which any progression can be compared.

Costs associated with project co-leads from UK business, civil society, community, or government bodies

The costs which can be claimed for project co-leads from business, civil society (including third sector), community, and government bodies vary depending on the type of organisation the project co-lead is contracted to.

All costs for project co-leads from business, civil society, community, and government bodies which are to be charged to the grant must be listed as exceptions and must be directly related to delivery of the Centre. Costs requested must also not duplicate any existing funding.

Project co-leads from businesses and civil society organisations in receipt of a subsidy

Applications which include project co-leads from UK business or from civil society organisations must ensure that the involvement of these organisations comply with the UK Subsidy Control Act 2022. This Act regulates how public funding is used to manage any advantage which threatens to or actually distorts competition in the United Kingdom, any other country or countries, or both (UK Subsidy Control Regime).

Both businesses and civil society organisations may be within the scope of the Act as the test is whether the organisation is engaged in economic activity.

Project co-leads from businesses and civil society organisations in receipt of a subsidy may claim the following costs:

• staff salary

• travel and subsistence

• other direct costs

Project co-leads from civil society and community

Project co-leads from civil society and community organisations may claim the following costs:

• staff salary

• staff national insurance and superannuation

• travel and subsistence

• other direct costs

• overheads and indirect costs

Project co-leads from government

Project co-leads from government may claim the following costs:

• staff salary (subject to note below)

• travel and subsistence

• other direct costs

We would not normally expect to see salary costs for government project co-leads applied for. However, we would allow it in some circumstances, for example:

• where they are part time, and the work related to the centre would be in addition to their usual contracted hours

• where they are required to secure external funding in order to conduct research

• where their organisation only agrees to release their time, provided they can secure funding for a replacement to cover their work

Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)

The Centre must demonstrate a commitment to building an inclusive leadership and management team that reflects the wider diversity of the research and innovation community. You must ensure that proactive equality, diversity, and inclusion  measures are built into the structure of the Centre at a fundamental level.

This commitment to promoting and implementing EDI includes both the management and core research teams, as well as the design and delivery of the devolved funding activities run by the Centre, and student recruitment and support. The Centre should be an EDI role model for the community.

Multidisciplinarity/interdisciplinarity

You must adopt a broad disciplinary approach to the development of the Centre. UKRI would like as many of its research and innovation communities represented within the Centre as possible. Ideally applications should include representatives from across a range of research council remit areas within the Centre’s leadership and research teams.

In addition, you are encouraged to ensure that the Centre includes representation from industry.

Sustainability

You should demonstrate how you will approach issues of environmental sustainability within your project. Wherever possible, projects should take a proactive approach to reducing their environmental impact and carbon footprint.

Stage-gate review

A formal stage-gate will be built into the award to align with the financial cycle of the statutory levy system. This review will assess progress against key milestones and strategic objectives. Continued funding beyond this point will be subject to satisfactory delivery, governance, and alignment with the evolving national strategy on gambling harms.

Duration

The duration of this award is five years.

Centre must start on 1 February 2026.

Funding available

The FEC of your project can be up to £10,000,000.

While there is no formal minimum funding threshold, you should note that applications significantly below the maximum available amount will need to clearly demonstrate how they will deliver equivalent impact, reach, and sustainability. We encourage you to consider how your proposed budget aligns with the scale of the funding opportunity.

The devolved funding strand (a minimum of 20% of total budget) should be costed at 100% FEC, other (non-Exceptions) costs should be costed at 80% FEC in line with standard UKRI terms and conditions.

Guidance on costs for non-academic organisations is available the UKRI website.

See also Innovate UK terms and conditions for further details of expectations for non-academic organisations and Innovate UK funding rules on considerations for applications from businesses.

We recognise that some applicants or partners may be employed by a government-funded organisation. You must therefore avoid the double counting of public funds in the costings.

Supporting skills and talent

UKRI supports over 25k FTE of R&I staff directly on grants, many more if indirect costs, facility charges and strategic funding streams are included. Those skilled people and teams design our studies, deliver the R&I work and disseminate the outputs. They are the R&I system; and mission critical to delivering the outcomes we invest in.

Our expectations for people and teams are collated on the supporting skills and talent section of the good research resource hub. In this opportunity we are piloting a new approach to embedding consideration of people and teams in our assessment. You can find the assessment criteria for integrating support for people and teams in your application in the people and teams assessment guidance.

You should evidence a strong commitment to supporting the development of researchers at all stages of their career. We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment.

The Centre should include a strong career development programme, shaped to suit the stage of the researchers’ career and providing increased opportunities for professional development. This should include, but not be limited to, the early and mid-career stages. Increasing capacity contributes to the quality and impact of the research. We encourage you to consider how you can support capacity building for all members of the project team.

In managing the cohort of PhD students, applicants should consult the UKRI Statement of expectations for doctoral training and utilise UKRI’s good practice principles in recruitment and training at a doctoral level. The studentship grant will be subject to UKRI’s terms and conditions for training funding.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

UKRI is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our TR&I Principles set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.

As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.

Further guidance and information about TR&I, including where applicants can find additional support.

Assessment process

We will assess your application using the following process.

Panel

We will invite experts to assess the quality of your application and rank it alongside other applications after which the panel will shortlist applicants for interview.

Interview

For shortlisted applications, an expert interview panel will conduct interviews with applicants after which the panel will make a funding recommendation.

We expect interviews to be held in November, specific dates to be confirmed.

UKRI will make the final funding decision.

Feedback

We will give feedback with the outcome of your application.

Principles of assessment

We support the San Francisco declaration on research assessment and recognise the relationship between research assessment and research integrity.

Find out about the UKRI principles of assessment and decision making.

Using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in expert review

Reviewers and panellists are not permitted to use generative AI tools to develop their assessment. Using these tools can potentially compromise the confidentiality of the ideas that applicants have entrusted to UKRI to safeguard.

For more detail see our policy on the use of generative AI.

Sharing data with co-funders

We will need to share the application (including any personal information that it contains) with DCMS so that they can participate in the assessment process.

For more information on how DCMS uses personal information, visit the DCMS personal information charter for further detail.

We reserve the right to modify the assessment process as needed.

Assessment areas

The assessment areas we will use are:

• Vision

• Approach

• Applicant and team capability to deliver

• Resource and cost justification

• Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

• Research involving human participation

• Flexible fund

• Associated project studentships

• Place

• Your organisation’s support

Find details of assessment questions and criteria under the ‘Application questions’ heading in the ‘How to apply’ section.

Webinar for potential applicants

We will hold a webinar on 24 July 2025. This will provide more information about the funding opportunity and a chance to ask questions.

Register for the webinar (Zoom)

To apply on the UKRI Funding Service click https://funding-service.ukri.org/OPP1028/apply/1060/

We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.

The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.

Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.

To apply

Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page.

1. Confirm you are the project lead.

2. Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password. If your organisation is not listed, email support@funding-service.ukri.orgPlease allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service. We strongly suggest that if you are asking UKRI to add your organisation to the Funding Service to enable you to apply to this opportunity, you also create an organisation Administration Account. This will be needed to allow the acceptance and management of any grant that might be offered to you.

3. Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.

4. Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.

5. Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.

6. Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.

Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.

When including images, you must:

• provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit)

• insert each new image on a new line

• use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format

Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application may be rejected if you include:

• sentences or paragraphs of text

• tables

• excessive quantities of images

A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.

For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:

• how applicants use the Funding Service

• how research offices use the Funding Service

• how reviewers use the Funding Service

References

References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.

Hyperlinks can be used in reference information. When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that:

• references are easily identifiable by the assessors

• references are formatted as appropriate to your research

• persistent identifiers are used where possible

General use of hyperlinks

Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.

For more information see our policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment.

Deadline

UKRI must receive your application by 16 September 2025 at 4:00pm UK time.

You will not be able to apply after this time.

Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.

Following the submission of your application to the funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and applications will not be returned for amendment. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.

Personal data

Processing personal data

AHRC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.

We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.

Sensitive information

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email operations@ahrc.ukri.org

Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].

Typical examples of confidential information include:

• individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)

• declaration of interest

• additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section

• conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection

• the application is an invited resubmission

For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.

Publication of outcomes

AHRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at What AHRC has funded.

If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.

Summary

Word limit: 550

In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.

We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:

• opinion-formers

• policymakers

• the public

• the wider research community

Guidance for writing a summary

Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:

• context

• the challenge the project addresses

• aims and objectives

• potential applications and benefits

Core team

List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:

• project lead (PL)

• project co-lead (UK) (PcL)

• project co-lead (international) (PcL (I))

• specialist

• grant manager

• professional enabling staff

• doctoral student

• research and innovation associate

• technician

Only list one individual as project lead.

UKRI has introduced a new addition to the ‘Specialist’ role type. Public contributors such as people with lived experience can now be added to an application.

Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.

Application questions

Vision

Word limit: 1,500

What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how your proposed work:

• is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the field(s) or area(s)

• has the potential to advance current understanding, generates new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field/area

• is timely given current trends, context and needs

• impacts world-leading research, society, the economy or the environment

• will embed EDI considerations into, and how these will guide your aims, as well as other activities such as stakeholder engagement, events and networking

• will plan and facilitate public engagement activities.

References may be included within this section.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Within the Vision section we also expect you to:

• describe the concept, context and coordination function of your project

• if applicable, demonstrate the alignment of the application to the funding opportunity objectives

• clearly state the research challenges that you will address

• explain how you will embed environmental sustainability within your activities

Approach

Word limit: 2,000

How are you going to deliver your proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how you have designed your approach so that it:

• is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives

• is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed

• if applicable, uses a clearly written and transparent methodology

• if applicable, summarises the previous work and describes how this will be built upon and progressed

• will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts

• describes how your, and if applicable your team’s, research environment (in terms of the place and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work

• will build EDI considerations into the formation, operation and governance of the hub, including how these will be operationalised

• will engage and collaborate with public engagement professionals at HEIs to craft a solid public engagement plan.

References may be included within this section.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Governance

Word limit: 1,000

How will you manage the award to successfully deliver its objectives?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how the proposed award will be managed, demonstrating that it:

• will be effectively governed, including details about advisory structures

• will be effectively and inclusively managed, demonstrated by a clear management plan

• has clear leadership team roles and responsibilities

• will manage and encourage partnerships with non-HEI organisations across government, industry and civil society

• has plans for monitoring your progress as well as self-evaluation throughout the lifetime of your award

• will put in place appropriate governance and administration to deliver the range of devolved funding opportunities

Within this section you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form, such as images, if relevant:

When including images you must:

• provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit)

• insert each new image on a new line.

• use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format.

Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application may be rejected if you include:

• sentences or paragraphs of text

• tables

• excessive quantities of images

A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.

Applicant and team capability to deliver

Word limit: 1,650

Why are you the right individual or team to successfully deliver the proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, have:

• the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to deliver the proposed work

• the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed work

• the appropriate leadership and management skills to deliver the work and your approach to develop others

• contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community

The word limit or this section is 1,650 words, 1,150 words to be used for R4RI modules and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.

Use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format to showcase the range of relevant skills you, and if relevant your team (project and project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on) have and how this will help to deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work.

Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed below. Use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the key skills each team member brings:

• contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge

• the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships

• contributions to the wider research and innovation community

• contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit

Additions: Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them).

You should complete this section as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.

The roles in funding applications policy has descriptions of the different project roles.

Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

Word limit: 1,500

What are the ethical and RRI implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

You must demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:

• the relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations

• how you will manage these considerations

If you are collecting or using data you should identify:

• any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing and storing the data (including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further re-use of data)

• formal information standards that your proposed work will comply with

Additional sub-questions (to be answered only if appropriate) relating to research involving:

• human participants

Research involving human participation

Word limit: 700

Will the project involve the use of human subjects or their personal information?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

If you are proposing research that requires the involvement of human subjects, provide the name of any required approving body and whether approval is already in place.

Justify the number and the diversity of the participants involved, as well as any procedures.

Provide details of any areas of substantial or moderate severity of impact.

If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Resources and cost justification

Word limit: 1,500

What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular:

• project staff

• significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences)

• any equipment that will cost more than £25,000

• any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities

• all facilities and infrastructure costs

• all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’

• International collaboration costs

You can request costs associated with reasonable adjustments where they increase as a direct result of working on the project. For further information see Disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders.

Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources. Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work:

• are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified

• represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes

• maximise potential outcomes and impacts

Flexible fund

Word limit: 1,500

How will you use and manage the flexible fund?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how you will use and manage the flexible fund so that it:

• supports your objectives

• distributes funding appropriately across a diverse range of activities

• where appropriate, distributes funding through robust, transparent competitive processes

• builds capacity in key fields and career stages

• ensures appropriate processes for monitoring, reporting, and governance of funded activities

• utilising new opportunities for public engagement that go beyond dissemination

Associated project studentships

Word limit: 1,500

What do you think the capacity-building needs associated with this research challenge are, and what is your approach to address them?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain you approach to, and plans for building capability, including how you will:

• support careers and capacity building, in line with challenge area

• demonstrate how you will enhance equality, diversity and inclusion across career stages and job roles in your Centre

• Identify the proposed dates on which your students will start their PhD

• Identify projects which will enable the students to engage with the work of the Centre and undertake impactful research

• recruit students to undertake those projects and continue to support them, in line with equality, diversity and inclusion plans

• develop and implement a programme of training and development for individual students, and the student cohort, which engages them fully in the Centre’s work and supports them in their research and in their future careers

• work with the supervisors to ensure students are fully supported in respect of their research, career development and health and wellbeing, to enable them to successfully complete their doctoral studies

• ensure that the students are supported in accordance with UKRI Training Grant Terms and Conditions and in line with the UKRI’s Statement of Expectation for doctoral training

• enable the students to collaborate or network with the wide range of partners that the Centre will engage, this might include collaborative doctorates, short projects or placements

• support the student in understanding and managing their projects to a high ethical standard.

Within this section you can also:

• demonstrate how you will support all career stages, pathways and types

• demonstrate how you will add value by convening and aligning existing training activity across the UK

• demonstrate how you will share good practice in skills and career development

• explain what the skills needs are in the challenge area in context of activities already on offer either within participating research organisations or nationally and justify how you are going to address them

• identify your intended training, careers and capacity building outcomes, actions to achieve these, and the relevant timescales, success criteria and evidence for each outcome.

Within this section we also expect you to provide details of the studentships requested and the PhD topic(s) to be undertaken including:

• Proposed start and end date of the studentship(s)

• Duration of each studentship in years

• Name of the student(s) if known at the point of application

• Name of main supervisor

• Details of the accredited subject area in which the student will be based

• Confirmation that the DTP/CDT Director supports the proposed studentship arrangements

• A summary statement of the PhD topic(s) to be undertaken and a justification for the length of the programme of study

• A clear statement of how this is independent from, but will add value to, the principal research objectives set out in the application

A letter of support from the DTP Director should be submitted with this application.

A letter should be within one side of A4 per student.

Place

Word limit: 700

What are the place related challenges or opportunities for your application?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how your proposed work:

• will deliver local and or regional impacts, both direct and indirect, and who the beneficiaries might be

• enhances the UK’s research and innovation capabilities through local and or regional activity

• will engage local and or regional stakeholders in meaningful partnership

• will consider connections with the research strategies of devolved nations

Your organisation’s support

Word limit: 1,000

Provide details of support from your research organisation.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Provide a Statement of Support from your research organisation detailing how they will support you, as the applicant, and your proposed activities. This should include details of any matched funding that will be provided to support the activity and any additional support that might add value to the work.

Assessors will be looking for a strong statement of support from your research organisation. This information should have been approved for submission by an appropriate institutional authority.

You must also include the following details:

• a significant person’s name, their position and office or department, or all

• office address or web link

Upload details are provided within the Funding Service on the actual application.

Project partners

Add details about any project partners’ contributions. If there are no project partners, you can indicate this on the Funding Service.

A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed research. This may include direct (cash) or indirect (in-kind) contributions such as expertise, staff time or use of facilities. Project partners may be in industry, academia, third sector or government organisations in the UK or overseas, including partners based in the EU.

Add the following project partner details:

• the organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable)

• the project partner contact name and email address

• the type of contribution (direct or indirect) and its monetary value

If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.

Project partners: letters (or emails) of support

Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner you named in the project partners section. These should be uploaded in English or Welsh only.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Enter the words ‘attachment supplied’ in the text box, or if you do not have any project partners enter ‘N/A’. Each letter or email you provide should:

• confirm the partner’s commitment to the project

• clearly explain the value, relevance, and possible benefits of the work to them

• describe any additional value that they bring to the project

• have a page limit of 2 sides A4 per partner

The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.

If you do not have any project partners, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Ensure you have prior agreement from project partners so that, if you are offered funding, they will support your project as indicated in the project partners’ section.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.

Background

• Government White Paper following review of the Gambling Act 2005 (April 2023)

• Public consultation on structure, distribution and governance of statutory levy on gambling operators (October 2023)

• Public Health England review on Gambling related harms (January 2023)

• Gambling Commission Evidence Gaps and Priorities 2023 to 2026

• Government response to consultation on structure, distribution and governance of statutory levy on gambling operators (November 2024)

Research and innovation impact

Impact can be defined as the long-term intended or unintended effect research and innovation has on society, economy and the environment; to individuals, organisations, and the wider global population.

Webinar for potential applicants

We will hold a webinar on 24 July 2025. This will provide more information about the funding opportunity and a chance to ask questions.

Register for the webinar (Zoom)

Research disruption due to COVID-19

We recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused major interruptions and disruptions across our communities. We are committed to ensuring that individual applicants and their wider team, including partners and networks, are not penalised for any disruption to their career, such as:

• breaks and delays

• disruptive working patterns and conditions

• the loss of ongoing work

• role changes that may have been caused by the pandemic

Reviewers and panel members will be advised to consider the unequal impacts that COVID-19 related disruption might have had on the capability to deliver and career development of those individuals included in the application. They will be asked to consider the capability of the applicant and their wider team to deliver the research they are proposing.

Where disruptions have occurred, you can highlight this within your application if you wish, but there is no requirement to detail the specific circumstances that caused the disruption.

Related content

• UKRI policies and standards

• AHRC policies and standards

Related opportunities

• Gambling harms research and innovation partnerships

Contact details

Get help with your application

If you have a question and the answers aren’t provided on this page

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Helpdesk is committed to helping users of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service as effectively and as quickly as possible. In order to manage cases at peak volume times, the Helpdesk will triage and prioritise those queries with an imminent opportunity deadline or a technical issue. Enquiries raised where information is available on the Funding Finder opportunity page and should be understood early in the application process (for example, regarding eligibility or content/remit of an opportunity) will not constitute a priority case and will be addressed as soon as possible.

Contact details

For help and advice on costings and writing your application please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

For questions related to this specific funding opportunity please contact operations@ahrc.ukri.org

Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the helpdesk.

Email: support@funding-service.ukri.org

Phone: 01793 547490

Our phone lines are open:

• Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm

• Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

To help us process queries quicker, we request that users highlight the council and opportunity name in the subject title of their email query, include the application reference number, and refrain from contacting more than one mailbox at a time.

For further information on submitting an application read How applicants use the Funding Service.