Churchill Fellowships open today for 2024: 'Explore global solutions for pressing UK challenges'
Physiotherapists with a yearning to ‘explore global solutions to pressing national challenges’ can apply for a Churchill Fellowship from today (4 September). Physiotherapist Sara Bolton is a current fellow who will be visiting Japan and Denmark as part of her research studies (see below for more about Sara and her project).
Each year, the Churchill Fellowship funds more than 100 people who spend from four to eight weeks meeting experts in their field anywhere in the world. They can make their connections in person and/or online.
Julia Weston, the Churchill Fellowship’s chief executive, said: ‘We are very excited to be launching our latest series of Fellowships. I would encourage anyone with a passion to make a difference to find out more about how a Churchill Fellowship can support you. We welcome applications from any UK citizen with a vision for change in their community or sector.’
Recipients can build valuable international networks that promote reciprocal knowledge exchange. Fellows are then supported as they work to make a difference in their community or professional sector back in the UK, based on the insights they gained during these exchanges.
Fellowship key points
- open to all adult UK citizens, regardless of qualifications, background or age.
- more than 100 fellowships awarded annually
- four-to-eight week international research period, in-person or online
- priority given to those who are unlikely to receive alternative funding
I am passionate about rehabilitation and ensuring older people in the UK can access services designed to make a real difference by helping people recover from illness or injury and live longer, with a good quality of life [Sara Bolton]
Current programmes for this series of fellowships include Promoting lifelong health; Arts and communities; Caring for our Natural environment; Children and young people with experience of care; Climate change; Supporting engagement in education; Resilient economies and communities; Tech for all; as well as an Open Option for other ideas.
Sara Bolton: a current fellow
Sara, a respiratory physiotherapist by background and chief allied health professional NHS England South East region, is a current fellow.
Her successful bid was titled: ‘Researching rehabilitation services for older people to help people live well in later years.’
Having worked in the NHS for more than 30 years, Ms Bolton says she has designed and delivered rehabilitation services in many settings – with a partcular focus on critical care, respiratory diseases and community-based rehabilitation for older people.
‘I am passionate about rehabilitation and ensuring older people in the UK can access services designed to make a real difference by helping people recover from illness or injury and live longer, with a good quality of life. As our population ages and lives longer, with multiple health conditions, rehabilitation is crucial for restoring independence and wellbeing.'
Sara to visit Japan and Denmark
Setting out her plan in a personal profile on the Churchill Fellowship’s website, Ms Bolton says she would conduct research into ‘rehabilitation services in countries where typically older people live longer, are valued by society and their rehabilitation needs are met, to inform UK rehabilitation services design’.
Sara adds: ‘I will research service provision in Japan and Denmark where older people more easily access activity, exercise, rehabilitation services and community support to improve their physical independence and wellbeing in later life.'
Applications for Churchill Fellowships can be made online from today until 12 noon on 12 November. Projects to start in 2025. For more information, click
Churchill Fellows join a community of more than 4,000 'changemakers' working on crucial issues across the UK.
Author: I A McMillan
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