Funding opportunities are advertised on our research awards and grants webpage and other appropriate media.

We’ve recently convened an independent Grants Peer Review Panel to make all recommendations for funding decisions. Prior to 2023, we convened independent peer review panels to assess individual grants on a case-by-case basis. You can read more about these below. 

In general, our processes for peer review are as follows:

The peer review process

  1. applications are checked for eligibility by BACP research and finance staff
  2. applications are considered by a Peer Review Panel
  3. we conduct interviews if the panel considers it appropriate
  4. recommended applications are forwarded to the BACP Research Committee for approval

Assessment criteria

While every funding scheme will have its own set of specific criteria, we assess all applications broadly in terms of: 

  • research excellence
  • relevance to counselling and psychotherapy practice
  • skills and abilities of the applicant and team
  • cost justification
  • outcomes and impact 

Grants Peer Review Panel (for all funding decisions from 2023 onwards)

Our Grants Peer Review Panel, established in 2023, is made up of people with lived experience of using, or caring for someone who has used, counselling, psychotherapy or coaching services. Academics within the field of counselling, psychotherapy and coaching research, those with prior experience of receiving grants themselves or experience of sitting on peer review panels for mental health research more broadly are part of our panel. 

Our Grants Peer Review Panel are:

Dr Chijioke Obasi
Dr Faith Martin
Dr Peter Martin
Jennifer Bostock, person with lived experience
Kamil Sterniczuk, person with lived experience
Olivia, person with lived experience
Professor Divine Charura
Professor Ladislav Timulak
Professor Naomi Moller
Professor Olivia Sagan
Professor Peter Bower

Peer Review Panels before 2023

Our recent peer reviewers: 

2020 Older People PhD Studentship 

Professor Trish Hafford-Letchfield (University of Strathclyde) 
Dr Sofie Bager-Charleson (Metanoia Institute) 
Dr Liddy Carver (Counsellor in private practice) 
Professor Naomi Moller (Open University) 

Award Winner: Rachel Evenden 

2019 CYP PhD Studentship 

Dr Sofie Bager-Charleson (Metanoia Institute)
Dr Liddy Carver (Counsellor in private practice)
Professor Mick Cooper (University of Roehampton) 

Additional interviewers: 
Dr Edith Steffen (University of Roehampton)
Dr John Roe (University of Roehampton) 

Award Winner: Helen Raynham 

2018 PhD Studentship x 2 

Dr Sofie Bager-Charleson (Metanoia Institute)
Dr Liddy Carver (Counsellor in private practice)
Dr Naomi Moller (Open University)
Dr Terry Hanley (University of Manchester) 

Award Winners: Rinda Haake and Jennifer Holland 

2017 PhD Studentship x 2 

Professor Sophie-Grace Chappell (Open University)
Myira Kahn (Counsellor in private practice)
Professor Roz Shafran (University College London)
Dr Naomi Moller (Open University) 

Award Winners: Mary Atito and Antonella Cirasola 

Please contact BACP

For further information, please contact research@bacp.co.uk 

See also ...