Introduction
Funders are increasingly recognising the importance of inclusive research. They often recommend or require that researchers show how their proposed research is equitable and considerate of multiple identities.
There are several aspects of budgeting in research that should be looked at using an inclusivity lens. These include budgeting for accessibility adaptations, equitable sharing of funds between research partners, and reimbursing public contributors.
Budgeting for accessibility
The adjustments that are required to make research projects accessible, representative, and inclusive often come with a cost. There are many things to consider in this regard, you might require new equipment, interpretation and translation services, additional staff to support the project, or hiring of public spaces. To get started, we recommend reading this GOV.UK blog post ‘What we mean when we talk about accessibility’ by Alistair Duggin and looking at this report ‘Budgeting for Equality’ by the Glasgow Disability Alliance.
Equitable budget allocation
Equitable budget allocation is especially important to consider when collaborators occupy different positions of power, such as in partnerships between global north and global south institutions. This Budget Equity Toolkit and summary sheet by the TEPSO (Towards Equal Partnerships with Global South) project set out some key things to consider when engaging in such partnerships.
Reimbursing public contributors
As explained in the section on Co-Creation and Collaboration, public contribution is not the same as participation in research. It is crucial that public contributors are involved in budgeting from the outset and are reimbursed properly. Read ‘Payment guidance for researchers and professionals’ published by NIHR for a general overview of this.
Financial inequality is both a cause and symptom of unequal power distributions, in research and wider society. Paying attention to the different ways money is distributed in research projects and ensuring that these are equitable is a key part of inclusive research. This includes ensuring sufficient funds to make projects accessible, proper distribution of financial decision making, and sufficient remuneration.
Activity
Accessibility Budgeting
See page 31 of the workbook.
Use a table, like the one below, to write down some accessibility adjustments you could make to your research. You will then need to look into the cost of different items. Use this as an opportunity to learn more about the different factors needed to make your research accessible and inclusive.
| Item | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Practical Steps and Tools
Don’t rush budgeting. Considerations to improve equity and inclusion are often the first to be dropped when projects come under pressure. Avoid this by giving yourself plenty of time to draw up a full and proper budget.
Include key partners in budgeting from the outset. It can be hard to anticipate all the possible requirements for a budget, particularly those which relate to aspects outside your experience. This can be mitigated by giving research partners, public contributors, or independent advisors a say in budgeting from the very beginning
If you have already received funding, apply for additional funding to make your accommodations possible:
- Check with your funder if they have additional funds available to support equitable accommodations.
For example, the British Academy Additional Needs Fund. - Check with other funders to see if they can provide the required financial support.
It can be difficult to predict in advance how much things will cost exactly. Furthermore, given the long time-scales for some projects, costs may increase between the time when you apply for funds and when you use them. As such, we recommend adding 10% to your proposed budget costs to ensure you are not left with insufficient funds.
References and Further Resources
UK Government advice for Running research sessions with disabled people.
The Elizabeth Blackwell Institute have a [toolkit to improve pre-award processes to reduce inequality. This aims to help funders and institutions design funding calls in a more accessible way.
