Partner Insitutions
The Isles of Scilly Community Venture leads the CRN delivery partnership and acts as the host organisation for the CRN. They are a local non-profit community interest company, dedicated to developing and operating infrastructure Scilly's community needs for its long-term sustainability.
The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust are another founding partner. They play a vital role in the CRN by contributing their expertise in environmental conservation and biodiversity. As an organisation committed to preserving the unique flora and fauna of the islands, the Wildlife Trust helps shape research projects that focus on sustainable land and marine management, ecosystem health, and species protection. Through their partnership, the Wildlife Trust strengthens the network's ability to address key ecological issues while fostering a deeper connection between the community and the islands' natural heritage.
Five Islands Academy, our only local school, plays a vital role in the CRN, as one of our partners, serving as an anchor for engagement and learning across generations. Students, teachers, and staff bring a fresh perspective and a sense of curiosity that enriches the research process, while also offering an opportunity to instil a sense of ownership and responsibility for the islands’ future in young people.
The University of Exeter are crucial to the CRN. They offer academic expertise and research capabilities across various disciplines. As a leading institution in environmental science, sustainability, and social research, the University of Exeter helps bridge the gap between the community's needs and cutting-edge research. They provide support in developing research questions, ensuring academic rigour, and facilitating access to specialised knowledge and resources.
Our Strategic Stakeholders
Strategic Stakeholders are organisations who have a significant role to play on Scilly and can use their role to maximise the benefits to our community from the research carried out by the CRN.
All our strategic stakeholders have made a commitment to support the CRN.
They do this by:
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Engaging with the CRN, keeping abreast of its activities, and publicly recognising their support for this important initiative.
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Furthering opportunities for research by promoting the CRN within its own organisation as a community-directed hub for research and innovation relevant to the Isles of Scilly, and by signposting staff and members to the CRN through their ongoing work with the community and other key stakeholders.
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Learning from the results of research and using it to benefit of their organisation and our islands.
If you would like to sign your organisation up as a strategic stakeholder to the Isles of Scilly Community Research Network, please:
Get in touch at hello@scillyresearch.org
Our Funders
The Isles of Scilly CRN is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through The Young Foundation, two key organisations dedicated to driving positive social change through research and innovation.
UKRI is a government-funded body that support a wide range of research initiatives across the UK, with a particular focus on fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and communities. Their motivation for supporting the CRN programme is to empower local communities, like ours on the Isles of Scilly, to actively participate in research that address the unique challenges of local areas, driving sustainable development and resilience.
All nine CRNs at a Young Foundation networking event in London, December 2024.
The Young Foundation, a charity committed to improving communities and social innovation, also played a crucial role in the CRN's creation. Their focus is on enabling communities to build their own solutions and actively engage with research that has real-world applications. Both UKRI and The Young Foundation are motivated by the belief that when local communities are given the tools and resources to conduct their own research, they can create lasting, positive impacts. The CRN funding will support this initiative for 5 years, providing financial backing and resources to ensure successful research project outcomes, with a view toward long-term sustainability.