Funding is supporting projects to create positive change on global issues
The One King's Impact Fund has awarded over £440,000 to nine project teams working to develop solutions that respond to some of the most pressing global issues we face today.
The fund is part of One King's Impact, the whole-university approach which strengthens King's ambition to be impact-driven in all that it does, uniting Education, Research and Service to deliver positive change for people, planet and society.
The funded projects for Round One are:
- Clinical Skills Sustainability Project - Reducing the carbon footprint of clinical skills education at King's.
- EmpowerESOL: supporting local Latin American parents - Tackling language barriers to reduce inequalities.
- Expanding Safe Pathways to Sanctuary: Refugee Family Reunion - Supporting people seeking sanctuary for their family members.
- Impact assessment and climate adaptation: Age UK Lambeth - Improving charity communications about climate change resilience.
- The Impact Centre for Palliative and End-of-Life Care - Better care for people affected by dying, death & bereavement.
- Maximum nutrition, minimum waste: 'Root-to-Tip' dining - Improving diet and sustainability through recipes using the whole plant
- Scaling up LENS - Establishing a digital therapy for anxiety, depression and resilience.
- Success for Black Students in Engineering & Physics - Addressing unequal outcomes to support aspiring Black physics students.
- Value Exchange - Generating climate-positive farming investments in Ghana and Benin.
Partners across the nine projects include Age UK Lambeth, South East London Integrated Care System, English for Action, Global Shea Alliance, Ansys Black Employee Network, the NHS, 3B Impact, The University Caterers Association (TUCO) and Refugee Legal Support.
Click here to find out more about the funded projects.
The projects teams span King's departments and disciplines, with students, researchers, professional services staff and alumni working with community partners, businesses, networks and charities to drive impact.
Over the next year, the projects will work to deliver real-world solutions through cross-sector, multidisciplinary collaborations. This combination of different types of expertise not normally brought together, including the integration of partners from outside the university, is fundamental to enhancing the positive difference King's can make in the world through this impact-driven work.
Round One of the fund
The One King's Impact Fund received 62 applications, with projects submitted from all nine King's faculties, and a combined financial support request of more than £3.2 million.
Speaking about the awards process, Professor 'Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President (International, Engagement & Service), "We know that there is appetite for and experience of impact-focused work already at King's. The selection panel for the fund were impressed with the quality of the submissions, with many proposals understanding the relevance of engaging a mix of expertise from the start, working locally to achieve something global. However, the purpose of this fund, and the wider approach, is to maximise and unlock even more interdisciplinary impact-focused work, as well as the sharing of best practice."
I am looking forward to seeing the collaborations that will be established with the network of project partners, both on our doorstep in London and across the world, to tackle important global challenges head-on.
Professor 'Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President (International, Engagement & Service)
The One King's Impact Fund was established to support new initiatives and scale existing projects across research, education and service that align with King's Impact Priorities. These nine projects selected for funding in Round One all support at least one of the five priorities, which were identified by the King's community as areas where the university could focus its expertise to make a distinct contribution. The £1 million fund is being allocated over two years; this announcement represents the first round of funding, with Round Two expected to open for applications later this year.
One King's Impact
The fund is part of One King's Impact, a whole-university approach to enhancing the positive difference King's makes by fostering and supporting a revolutionary type of impact culture. The programme intends to strengthen King's Strategy 2026 ambition to be impact-driven in all that it does, uniting education, research and service to deliver positive change for people, planet and society.
One King's Impact also convenes the Impact Changemakers; a network of students, staff, alumni and external partners facilitating idea-sharing and access to training and support, as well as driving awareness and fostering connections among members.
One King's Impact is advised by an Impact Leaders Board of experts from diverse fields spanning law, business, finance, public sector, charities and UK Government is providing cross-sector advice, peer support and mentorship to the programme.
The One King's Impact Fund will announce the Round Two funding call later this year. To find out more about the programme, including other ways to get involved visit kcl.ac.uk/impact
