The Inspire Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £264,136 (FY 2024 expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Approximately 6 months from initial contact
• Grant Range: £14,095 - £65,000+ (research projects); ~£20,000/year (PhD scholarships)
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland)
• Application Schedule: Scientific Committee meets March/September; Board of Trustees approves May/November

Contact Details

Address: The INSPIRE Foundation, Duke of Cornwall's Spinal Treatment Centre, Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury SP2 8BJ

Phone: 01722 425098

Email: office@inspire-foundation.org.uk / ntrs@inspire-foundation.org.uk (for applications)

Website: www.inspire-foundation.org.uk

Director: Rory Steevenson

Overview

Founded in 1985 by in-patients undergoing spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation at Odstock (now Salisbury District) Hospital, The INSPIRE Foundation is a specialist charity that funds research addressing independence and quality of life after spinal cord injury. With over 35 years of history, the charity operates nationally across the British Isles, serving the 50,000 people living with SCI.

For FY ending 30 April 2024, the charity had total income of £160,498 and expenditure of £264,136. The foundation receives no government or NHS funding and generates all funds independently, primarily from grant-making trusts. Their current research programme consists of 5 projects throughout the UK, costing £756,000. The charity operates with 6 trustees and 12 volunteers, with no paid employees earning over £60,000.

Shortlisted for the Charity Governance Awards 2017 in the “Improving Impact: Charities with 0-3 paid staff” category, the charity was recognized for transforming a scientific area “withering on the vine” by launching seven essential research projects and restructuring their board and committees to improve impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Research Project Grants: £14,000 - £65,000+

• Fund specific research projects at universities and research institutions
• Typical duration: 24-36 months
• Rolling applications via two-stage process (Letter of Intent, then full application if invited)
• Recent projects include FES devices for hand function (£22,500), ergometer development (£14,095), FES-rowing feasibility study (£20,590), and iCYCLE feasibility study (£38,057)

PhD Scholarships: ~£20,000 per year

• Cover university stipend and fees for 3-4 year PhD projects
• Named in memory of Major General Ralph Crossley, former INSPIRE Trustee
• Paid termly, conditional on satisfactory progress
• Scholars must commit to working in SCI field for 2 years post-PhD
• Applications accepted at any time

Priority Areas

The foundation's research strategy focuses exclusively on spinal cord injury with emphasis on practical “here and now” solutions rather than “the cure.” Specific areas of interest include:

• Bladder function and control - neurostimulation techniques, “Bionic Bladder” projects
• Bowel function and management - alternatives to pharmaceutical therapies
• Hand function for tetraplegics - Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) devices
• Mobility for paraplegics - wheelchair improvements, cycling/rowing devices
• Pain management - including virtual reality approaches
• Pressure sores - prevention and treatment research
• Sexual function - quality of life improvements

The foundation prioritizes:

• Research that significantly improves quality of life for people with SCI
• Pilot studies that can attract larger future grants
• Projects exploiting the latest electronic, mechanical, and medical technology
• Essential rather than desirable project costs

What They Don't Fund

• Research focused on “curing” or repairing damaged spinal nerves
• Research unrelated to spinal cord injury
• Projects that don't align with their Research Strategy
• Non-essential or desirable costs

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (meets May and November)

• Professor Ian Swain - Life Patron & Chair of Trustees
• Emeritus Professor Peter Ellaway - Life Patron
• Ms Mary V Mullin
• Charles Ranaboldo (has personal SCI experience)
• Robert Tylor (has personal SCI experience)

Five trustees have personal experience with spinal cord injury. All trustees volunteer their time with no remuneration. The charity was founded by patients including David McCreath, now a Life Patron, who has provided over 35 years of personal experience to develop the research program.

National Scientific Committee (meets March and September at Royal Society of Medicine)

The NSC consists of leading UK specialists in SCI, medical physics, electronics, and wider scientific areas from teaching hospitals and universities:

• Prof Nick Donaldson - Chairman, University College London
• Emeritus Prof Alan Cottenden - University College London
• Ram Hariharan - Yorkshire Regional Spinal Injuries Centre
• Dr Michael J Grey - Loughborough University
• Dr Jonathan Jarvis - Liverpool John Moores University
• Dr Henry Lancashire - UCL
• Sue Paddison - The London Spinal Cord Injury Centre/Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
• Eimear Smith - National Rehabilitation & Mater Misericordiae University Hospital Dublin
• John Spensley - Retired Industrial Scientist
• Robert Tylor (has SCI, also serves as Trustee)

One member is a reviewer for over 30 scientific journals and has reviewed grants for NIHR, MRC, and the Wellcome Trust. When specialized expertise is needed beyond NSC members, the Chairman/Secretary seeks external peer review from specialists in that particular area.

User Committee

Consists entirely of people with spinal cord injuries. All grant applications are reviewed by both the User Committee and Scientific Committee. As noted in governance materials: “it would be unusual for a project rejected by the Users to go on to the Scientific Committee.”

Director Quote: Rory Steevenson emphasized in relation to the Masonic Charitable Foundation £65,000 NEUROMOD grant: “This funding was crucial as we receive no government funding.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Stage 1: Initial Contact & Letter of Intent (LOI)

• Project title
• Aims and anticipated outcomes
• Research team/Principal Investigator
• Location(s)
• Duration
• Funding requirements from INSPIRE and other sources

Stage 2: Full Application (by invitation only)

1. If your LOI is approved, you'll be invited to complete a full application form
2. Obtain preliminary agreement from the Director (who consults with National Scientific Committee)
3. Submit completed application to: Director, The INSPIRE Foundation, The Duke of Cornwall's Spinal Treatment Centre, Salisbury District Hospital, SP2 8BJ

Important: “Applicants should not submit a full Application unless invited to do so.”

For PhD Scholarships: Selection normally carried out by Principal Investigators, but interested parties (PIs or PhD Scholars) should call the Director to discuss outline ideas. Applications accepted at any time.

Decision Timeline

• From cold start: Approximately 6 months to approval
• National Scientific Committee meets in March and September
• Board of Trustees meets in May and November (typically 2 months after NSC)
• If NSC recommends an application in March, Trustees could approve in May; September recommendations approved in November
• For PhD scholarships, applicants are usually informed of status with final approvals typically in April

All projects undergo rigorous external peer review when specialized expertise is required beyond the NSC's scope.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the rigorous two-stage process (with User Committee and Scientific Committee reviews) and invitation-only full applications suggest selective approval.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published on their website. Applicants should contact the Director to discuss whether and when to resubmit unsuccessful proposals.

Application Success Factors

Based on INSPIRE's documented approach, successful applications demonstrate:

1. User Committee Approval is Critical

The User Committee (composed entirely of people with SCI) reviews all applications before the Scientific Committee. According to their governance structure: “it would be unusual for a project rejected by the Users to go on to the Scientific Committee.” Your research must clearly demonstrate benefit to people living with SCI.

2. Focus on “Here and Now” Solutions

The foundation explicitly states their interest is in "the 'here and now' issues and how we can exploit the latest technology“ rather than research focused on ”the cure" or nerve repair. Frame your research around immediate quality of life improvements.

3. Pilot Studies That Attract Future Funding

INSPIRE prioritizes pilot studies that can generate preliminary data to attract larger grants from major funders. Demonstrate how your project could lead to larger funding opportunities.

4. Essential Costs Only

The foundation requires essential rather than desirable project costs. Budget requests should be lean and justified as necessary for project success.

5. Examples of Funded Projects

Recent funded projects provide models:

• FES Device for Hand Function (Swain, Hall, Venugopalan) - £22,500/36 months
• iCYCLE Feasibility Study (Burridge) - £38,057/36 months
• FES-rowing for Bone Density (Gibbons) - £20,590/24 months
• Ergometer Development (Donaldson) - £14,095/24 months
• NEUROMOD bladder/bowel control (Doherty, Masonic Charitable Foundation grant) - £65,000

6. Strong Preliminary Relationship

The emphasis on initial Director contact before LOI submission suggests relationship-building is important. Rory Steevenson “sits on the National Scientific Committee and is also Secretary to the Trustees,” making him a key gatekeeper.

7. Multi-institutional Projects Welcome

Many funded projects involve multiple locations (e.g., University of Southampton, RNOH Stanmore, UCL). Collaborative approaches are clearly valued.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Make early contact - Call Director Rory Steevenson (01722 425098) to discuss your project before submitting any written materials. This preliminary conversation is essential to the process.

• Demonstrate immediate benefit to SCI community - Your project must pass the User Committee (people with SCI). Frame your research in terms of practical quality of life improvements, not theoretical advances or “cure” research.

• Align with the seven priority areas - Projects must address mobility, hand function, bladder control, bowel control, pressure sores, pain management, or sexual function. Technology-focused solutions (FES, mechanical devices, electronic systems) are particularly favored.

• Think pilot, not definitive - INSPIRE prefers smaller pilot studies that can generate data for larger future grants. Position your project as a stepping stone to major funding from NIHR, MRC, Wellcome Trust, or other large funders.

• Budget tightly - With project grants ranging £14,000-£40,000 (occasionally higher with co-funders), request only essential costs. The charity has limited resources and no government backing.

• Be patient with the timeline - Six months from initial contact to approval is the norm. Plan your research timeline accordingly, understanding that NSC meets only twice yearly.

• Understand the governance structure - Your application faces three review stages: User Committee, Scientific Committee, and Board of Trustees. Each must approve. The dual committee structure (users and scientists) is unique and both perspectives must be satisfied.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• WELLBEING OF WOMEN
• PROSTATE CANCER UK
• Sustrans (Walk Wheel Cycle Trust)
• Tearfund
• BREAST CANCER NOW
• Tommy's
• Motor Neurone Disease Association
• ACTION MEDICAL RESEARCH
• Barnabas Fund
• The Brain Tumour Charity
• KIDNEY RESEARCH UK
• World Cancer Research Fund
• Medical Research Foundation
• The Football Foundation
• Brain Tumour Research
• Breakthrough T1D UK (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Limited)
• The Save the Children Fund
• THE ROYAL MARSDEN CANCER CHARITY
• CAUDWELL CHILDREN
• THE RIVERS TRUST

References

• The INSPIRE Foundation Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/296284
• INSPIRE Foundation Official Website: https://www.inspire-foundation.org.uk/
• Research Application for Funding: https://www.inspire-foundation.org.uk/research-application-for-funding/
• INSPIRE Foundation Research Strategy: https://www.inspire-foundation.org.uk/inspire-foundation-research-strategy/
• The National Scientific Committee (NSC): https://www.inspire-foundation.org.uk/the-national-scientific-committee-nsc/
• INSPIRE Foundation Trustees: https://www.inspire-foundation.org.uk/trustees/
• Our Current Projects: https://www.inspire-foundation.org.uk/our-current-projects/
• The INSPIRE Foundation PhD Scholarship: https://www.inspire-foundation.org.uk/inspire-phd-scholarship/
• The INSPIRE Foundation - Charity Governance Awards 2017: https://www.charitygovernanceawards.co.uk/short-list/the-inspire-foundation/
• Masonic Charitable Foundation: “£65,000 awarded to improve the lives of people with spinal cord injuries” https://mcf.org.uk/65000-awarded-improve-lives-people-spinal-cord-injuries/
• Charity Choice - The Inspire Foundation: https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/the-inspire-foundation-138778