Samuel Fellows in Belonging 2026 Fellowship – Apply by March 16 to Research Social Isolation and Community Belonging

Applications are now open for the Samuel Fellows in Belonging 2026 Fellowship, a global initiative led by the Belonging Forum that supports individuals with diverse lived experiences to conduct innovative research on social isolation and belonging. The fellowship provides an opportunity to collaborate with leading organizations worldwide and contribute to projects aimed at strengthening inclusive communities.

The program connects fellows with partner organizations working on real-world research projects that address loneliness, social exclusion, and community connection. Fellows will contribute their perspectives, lived experiences, and research skills to help develop solutions that improve belonging and inclusion across societies.

About the Samuel Fellows in Belonging Program

The Samuel Fellows in Belonging Fellowship was designed to amplify diverse voices in research and policy discussions about belonging and social inclusion. The program supports participants from different backgrounds, including young people, older adults, and individuals with varied life experiences.

Through collaboration with global partner organizations, fellows work on research projects exploring key themes such as community engagement, inclusive healthcare, environmental justice, social policy, and civic participation.

The fellowship emphasizes participatory research approaches, ensuring that people who have experienced social isolation or marginalization can actively shape the research process and outcomes.

Fellowship Projects and Partner Organizations

For the 2026 cohort, fellows will have the opportunity to work on research projects with several internationally recognized organizations. These include:

• Data-Driven EnviroLab – Measuring Urban Environmental Performance and Social Inclusion

• HelpAge Canada – Benchmarking Belonging

• HelpAge Canada – Informing Policy

• Inside-Out Center – Inside-Out Think Tanks

• Inside-Out Center – What Transformation Looks Like – and Where It Can Take Us

• Partners in Health – Co-Creating Belonging in Healthcare for Persons with Disabilities in Rural Liberia

• Synergos South Africa – Inner Work for Outer Change

• Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement – Communities Building Belonging

• Warm Welcome Campaign – Exploring Inclusion in Warm Welcome Spaces across the United Kingdom

Each project allows fellows to engage with important social issues while gaining research experience and contributing to meaningful social change.

Featured Project: Exploring Inclusion in Warm Welcome Spaces Across the UK

One of the highlighted projects in the 2026 fellowship is led by the Warm Welcome Campaign, a community initiative founded in 2022 that aims to create welcoming spaces across the United Kingdom.

Warm Welcome Spaces are community-run environments located in libraries, community centers, faith institutions, and local businesses. These spaces provide safe, inclusive environments where people can gather, share meals, connect with others, and receive support during challenging times.

The campaign currently includes more than 6,000 registered spaces, with over 250 locations participating in the co-design of an inclusion toolkit developed in partnership with the inclusion specialist group NeuroAdvantage. The toolkit aims to help community spaces strengthen inclusivity and build deeper connections among visitors.

As part of the fellowship project, the selected fellow will research how Warm Welcome Spaces across the UK begin implementing this toolkit when it is publicly released in April 2026. The fellow will evaluate how effectively the toolkit supports inclusion and belonging while identifying challenges, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.

The research findings will help inform strategies to improve community inclusion efforts and enhance the effectiveness of these spaces in reducing loneliness and promoting wellbeing.

Fellowship Benefits

Participants in the Samuel Fellows in Belonging program will gain valuable experience in collaborative research, social innovation, and community engagement.

Key benefits of the fellowship include:

• Collaboration with internationally recognized organizations and researchers

• Opportunities to conduct meaningful research on social belonging and inclusion

• Mentorship and support from experienced professionals and project leaders

• Practical experience contributing to social policy and community development initiatives

• Exposure to global networks focused on reducing social isolation

The fellowship offers a unique opportunity for participants to contribute to real-world solutions that strengthen communities and support inclusive societies.

Application Deadline

Applications for the Samuel Fellows in Belonging 2026 Fellowship close on March 16, 2026.

Interested applicants are encouraged to review the project descriptions carefully and submit their applications through the official fellowship application portal.

To submit your application: APPLY HERE

To find more about this opportunity: CLICK HERE
To find about more fellowship opportunity: CLICK HERE