The Churchill Fellowship

Who we are

The Churchill Fellowship runs a unique programme of overseas research grants. These support UK citizens from all parts of society to travel the world in search of innovative solutions for today’s most pressing problems.

Every year we award up to 150 Fellowships. These fund outstanding individuals to travel for 4-8 weeks, anywhere in the world, researching a topic of their choice among global leaders in their field. On their return, we help them to share their global learning with professions and communities across the UK.

These are not academic research grants. They are practical inquiries into real-world issues that the Fellows have encountered in their daily lives. They cover eight universal themes in society: Arts and culture, Community and citizenship, Economy and enterprise, Education and skills, Environment and resources, Health and wellbeing, Governance and public provision, Science and technology.

Any UK adult citizen can apply, regardless of qualifications, age or background. They are chosen not for their past achievements, but for the power of their ideas and their potential to be change-makers.

The Fellowship was created by public subscription in 1965 as the living legacy of Sir Winston Churchill. Since then we have made 5,800 grants to inspiring individuals who possess the passion and commitment to make a real difference. For many, it has been a life-changing opportunity.

At the heart of all this is a simple but enduring concept. We are empowering individuals to learn from the world, for the benefit of the UK. Today this idea is more valuable than ever.