Deadline Date: November 03, 2025
The Public Realm Innovation Lab in Barking and Dagenham invites innovative organisations to apply for funding support aimed at addressing the borough’s most pressing health challenges through creative and practical interventions.
The focus of this initiative aligns with the borough’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023–2028, which prioritises early intervention, community resilience, and place-based care to tackle systemic challenges such as deprivation, food inequality, and limited access to safe, active public spaces.
Barking and Dagenham currently faces the highest childhood obesity rate of any London borough, a situation driven by a combination of health inequalities and socio-economic barriers. To address this, the Public Realm Innovation Lab seeks innovative proposals that can be trialled in real-world settings through pre-commercial procurement. Under this programme, successful applicants will receive up to £25,000 including VAT to conduct their trials.
To be eligible, applicants must be UK-registered public, private, or third-sector organisations considered to be of SME size, meaning fewer than 250 employees, less than £44 million in turnover, and a balance sheet of no more than £38 million. Charities may also apply, provided they can conduct the project on a commercial basis. Consortia applications are welcome, but a single organisation must act as the lead and manage the distribution of funds.
Projects must demonstrate novelty—either by implementing solutions in a new environment, targeting a new audience, or introducing new elements to existing approaches. Proposals should align with the programme challenge and reflect a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6 or higher. Selected applicants must commit to developing a full trial plan between 1st and 12th December, attend workshops, and participate in the site visit day scheduled for 3rd December 2025 in Barking, London.
Funding will be provided on a pre-commercial basis, with an upfront payment of 60% of the total trial budget within 30 days of the first invoice, and the remaining 40% released upon approval of the final project report and invoice. This structured financial support ensures that selected applicants can focus on testing and validating their solutions effectively.
For more information, visit Connected Places Catapult.
