Resources for Research Group committees
Below are a number of resources for current Research Group committee members. If you have any queries please contact RHED@rgs.org
Core resources
All committee members should be familiar with:
- The Research Groups Handbook (PDF) (last updated March 2025).
- The Annual calendar of deadlines and events (PDF) (last updated March 2025; all dates provisional).
- Guidance for Research Groups and GDPR (PDF) (last updated September 2018).
- Guidance on external sponsorship of Research Groups (DOC) (last updated December 2021).
- Research Group committee updates form (DOC)
- Research Group committee appointment form (DOC).
Reporting and finances
Research Group financial and annual reports should be provided to rhed@rgs.org by no later than 31 October each year.
- Research Group annual report template (DOC).
- Research Group financial reporting form (MSEXCEL).
- Guidance for Treasurers (PDF) (last updated February 2019).
Grant applications
Research Groups are invited to make applications for grants to support their activities by the deadline of 31 October each year. Additional guidance on applications is provided in the Research Group handbook.
Responsive Interventions Fund
We recognise there are events and issues both nationally and globally on which Research Groups are well placed to share their expertise and insights. Groups may wish to call for action on a particular subject or event; to draw attention to a situation; or to express solidarity with and support for affected communities - both within and beyond their own group membership.
Applications can be made to the Responsive Interventions Fund, to support such interventions, at any point during the year. Grants from the Responsive Interventions Fund will not normally exceed £1,000, although exceptions can be made. Items funded can include paying people for their time/work, with priority for those not in salaried roles. Additional guidance on applications is available in the Research Groups Handbook.
Constitutions
Research Groups considering updates to their constitutions are asked to use the following template, approved by the Research and Higher Education Committee:
- Research Group Constitution template (DOC) (last updated September 2023).
Executive role bursaries
One of the requirements to hold the role of Chair, Treasurer or Secretary of a Research Group is Fellowship (including Associate Fellowship) of the Society. There is also a requirement that the majority of a given Research Group committee will be Fellows of the Society. The latter is important in terms of representation and governance in the Society.
The scheme
As part of the Society’s support for Research Groups, each year funds will be available for up to five bursaries (each for one year) to cover the costs of Society Fellowship for unsalaried individuals if elected to executive roles on Research Group committees.
The process
Those who are interested in taking on a Research Group executive committee role (Chair, Secretary, Treasurer), but whose circumstances prevent them from taking up Society Fellowship, are invited to submit an expression of interest for this support, using the form below.
The annual deadline for applications is 15 September.
Applications will be treated in the strictest of confidence. Those applying will be expected to have considered taking up Associate Fellowship first if they are eligible to do so (within five years of the completion of their first degree) and if their circumstances permit.
Expressions of interest will be reviewed by a sub-committee of the Research and Higher Education committee, comprising the Councillor for Research and Higher Education and the Research Group Representatives. The sub-committee will review and establish the eligibility of applications. If the number of eligible applications exceeds five, we will then operate a lottery to select those to receive the five bursaries. We will operate a reserve list should successful recipients not be elected or take up the role.
Successful applicants will be notified by late September each year.
Bursary holders will have the option in subsequent years, should it be relevant, to request additional years of support in order to complete three-year terms, by submitting a new form. However, such support cannot be guaranteed. Such applications will be included in the limit of five bursaries per year.
Where Research Groups have financial resource available, there is the option for the Research Group to fund the additional years of support to committee members who had previously received a bursary if their circumstances are appropriate. This is an exception to the general principle that committee members should not financially benefit from Research Group funds (so as to avoid any perceived or actual conflict of interest). There is no expectation from the Society that groups will choose to use their funds in this way.