Small Research Awards

Eligibility: 

To be eligible for this award you must be a student midwife and RCM member at the time that you submitted your application [even if you will be a qualified midwife when the award winners are announced].

Award activity: 

Speak to a midwife researcher^*1 about their role in research. This could be someone within your University, or in a Trust/Health Board where you attend clinical placement. Or you could make a connection with someone outside of your current professional network – looking at the RCM Research Hub may give you some ideas.  

We would like you to reflect on your conversation, and in 1000 words explain: 

• How do you think the findings of the midwife’s work could be useful to your practice? 
• What have you taken from your conversation? How can you take what you have learnt forward into your career? [this could be in relation to applying the findings to your practice, but also in terms of career development] 

^*Midwifery researchers are defined as Research Midwives working on portfolio studies, midwives undertaking PhD level study, clinical academic midwives and midwives who are undertaking independent research projects/roles. 

¹Please ensure that you discuss with the midwife if they would like your submission to keep them anonymous. You will be asked to confirm permission to include any identifying information on the application form.

Please ensure that the suggested word count of the submission is followed.  

Prize: 

- 1 year subscription to MIDIRS [If you are already subscribe to MIDIRS then an equivalent book token will be provided] 

- £100

- We would also like to offer the winner the opportunity to work with the RCM on a current project or publication 

Eligibility: 

To be eligible for this award, at the time that you submit your application you must be an Early Career Midwife within the first three years of your NMC registration.  Midwives working in any area of practice can apply – for example midwives working in education or leadership roles, as well as those working in a clinical environment. You must also be an RCM member.   

Award activity: 

Please consider the following question: 

‘If you had sufficient funding available to you, what research would you like to do in order to develop midwifery practice¹?  

We would encourage you to discuss your idea with a midwife researcher^*2. This could be someone in your Trust/Health Board or at your local University. Alternatively, you could make a connection with someone outside of your local area – looking at the RCM Research Hub may give you some ideas.  

^*Midwifery researchers are defined as Research Midwives working on portfolio studies, midwives undertaking PhD level study, clinical academic midwives and midwives who are undertaking independent research projects/roles. 

¹this can be in any area of midwifery practice, for example in clinical practice, management, leadership, education, research or policy 

²Please ensure that you discuss with the midwife if they would like your submission to keep them anonymous. You will be asked to confirm permission to include any identifying information on the application form 

Write a 1000 word research proposal outline, that explains the way that you would plan this piece of research. This should include: 

• Rational: Why is your proposed research important? 
• Literature review: What is known about this topic, and what are the knowledge gaps that your research would address?  

• Methods: How would you conduct your research, including how you would address any ethical considerations? 
• Dissemination: How would you plan to share your findings? 

Prize: 

- 1 year subscription to MIDIRS [If you are already subscribed to MIDIRS then an equivalent book token will be provided] 

- £100 

- We would also like to offer the winner the opportunity to work with the RCM on a current project or publication 

Eligibility: 

To be eligible for this award you should be a midwife more than 3 years post-NMC registration, and an RCM member. Midwives working in any area of practice can apply – for example midwives working in education or leadership roles, as well as those working in a clinical environment 

Award activity: 

Please consider the following question: 

‘If you had sufficient funding available to you, what research would you like to do in order to develop midwifery practice¹?  

We would encourage you to discuss your idea with a midwife researcher^*2. This could be someone in your Trust/Health Board or at your local University. Alternatively, you could make a connection with someone outside of your local area – looking at the RCM Research Hub may give you some ideas.  

^*Midwifery researchers are defined as Research Midwives working on portfolio studies, midwives undertaking PhD level study, clinical academic midwives and midwives who are undertaking independent research projects/roles. 

¹this can be in any area of midwifery practice, for example in clinical practice, management, leadership, education, research or policy 

²Please ensure that you discuss with the midwife if they would like your submission to keep them anonymous. You will be asked to confirm permission to include any identifying information on the application form 

Write a 1000 word research proposal outline, that explains the way that you would plan this piece of research. This should include: 

• Rational: Why is your proposed research important? 
• Literature review: What is known about this topic, and what are the knowledge gaps that your research would address?  

• Methods: How would you conduct your research, including how you would address any ethical considerations? 
• Dissemination: How would you plan to share your findings? 

Prize: 

- 1 year subscription to MIDIRS [If you are already subscribed to MIDIRS then an equivalent book token will be provided] 

- £100 

- We would also like to offer the winner the opportunity to work with the RCM on a current project or publication 

Eligibility:  

To be eligible for this award you must be a MSW and RCM member at the time that you submitted your application [even if you have commenced midwifery training when the award winners are announced]. 

Award activity:  

‘If you had sufficient funding available to you, what service evaluation or research study would you like to do?   

Your service improvement or research study idea could include your clinical practice, your working environment, work force issues or your education and training.’ 

Write 1000 words, providing your response to the statement. This should include [as appropriate]: 

• The rational for your idea 
• How would you undertake your proposed work 

• Any relevant ethical considerations 
• How you would share your findings – within your workplace, and beyond your workplace  

If you have discussed your submission with a MSW or midwife you may choose to refer to aspects of your conversation within your submission, although this is not essential. You will be asked to confirm permission to include any identifying information on the application form if you do wish to identify them.  

Please ensure that the suggested word count of the submission is followed.   

Prize:  

- 1 year subscription to MIDIRS [If you are already subscribe to MIDIRS then an equivalent book token will be provided]  

- £100  

- We would also like to offer the winner the optional opportunity to take part in professional development opportunities with the RCM