2025 projects

We delivered a range of innovative projects that worked with local and global communities and partners to address issues around health, the environment, education and the economy.

Projects supported through the Harmonised Impact Acceleration Account

Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through six Research Councils, this fund supports research and innovation, trials diverse and innovative ways to support industry, policy, and public engagement, and deepens impact of previously funded research projects.

Funded projects covered a diverse range of activities, from developing new educational resources for schools in Wales, widening demographic citizen participation in local council consultations, and improving air quality in ethnic minority households to boosting tourism and heritage awareness in one of India’s poorest states.

Fostering empathy for endangered animals through creative writing and drawing

Piloting creative writing and drawing workshops to tackle the global ecological crisis.

Discovering local histories

Improving the delivery and teaching of Welsh history in the new curriculum for Wales.

Producing a toolkit for story co-creation with refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh

Helping practitioners in Armenia who work with children, young people and others affected by conflict to develop new approaches to dealing with trauma and fostering resilience and hope.

The Benjamin Berlin Project: Practices of public remembering in cities in crises

Creation of audio guides and sound pieces to explore alternative practices of public remembering.

Olion

Co-creating Welsh-medium history resources for schools.

Activating and implementing the ‘Xuanzang Trail’ project

Developing heritage walks, tourist trails and learning material in to boost tourism heritage awareness in Bihar, India’s poorest state.

Black Oot Here and There: Dreams O Us in Scotland and Wales

Building on Scottish and Welsh archives, Black history curriculum development, and strengthening the scholarly area of Black studies in devolved nations in Britain.

Alternative forms of living

Developing a community-led housing network in Wales.

Revolutionising visitor experiences of cultural heritage

Unleashing the power of artificial intelligence chattable avatars in interactive exhibitions.

Facilitating community engagement in Local Development Plan consultations

Widening demographic citizen participation in consultations

Good practice guide to raise awareness of indoor air quality on the health and well-being of ethnic minorities

Examining how cultural practices affect indoor air quality in ethnic minority households.

Co-Producing Place Narratives

Empowering Communities through a Participatory Storytelling Urban Photography Project

Reading Identities – Darllen Hunaniaethau

Developing digital educational resource on reading identities in Welsh literary texts in the classroom.

Civic Mission and Public Engagement Fund

Supported by the Research Wales Innovation Fund (RWIF), the first round of Civic Mission and Public Engagement Progression Fund was created in 2024 to develop pilot project with external partners, and to test the feasibility of collaborative civic or public engagement projects within the Cardiff Capital Region. Learn about the impactful projects delivered in 2024.

A second round of funding was launched in 2025 to expand the reach and scope of civic mission and public engagement projects.

Building Futures Together

Digitalising Child-Led Citizen Science for Sustainable Schools

Grow Your Own School

Training and resources to enable children to enjoy the wellbeing, educational and environmental benefits of gardening.

Let’s Talk Research

Establishing a University-Community Partnership in the Rhymney Valley

South Wales Civic Engagement Partnership: Realising Aspirations Fund

The South Wales Civic Engagement Partnership (SWCEP), comprising of 10 further and higher education institutions, supported by Medr funding, aims to foster collaboration among partner institutions and civic organisations to tackle barriers faced by communities.

In 2025, the SWCEP established the Realising Aspirations Fund to support projects within the Cardiff Capital Region that promote further and higher education, careers, and broader community engagement, prioritising sustainable civic relationships and co-creation with students and civic partners.