From 23 September 2025, participating RISE members in Africa and the Caribbean can apply to a special round of TAP INTO grants, delivered as part of our partnership with the University of Bristol and the Plants, Enslavement and Public History project. These small grants will allow RISE member sites to pilot new interventions that respond to the research questions and themes underpinning the project. The project will analyse these interventions and share the experiences and learning of RISE members more widely. 

We expect to award 8 grants with a maximum value of £3,000. Grants will be distributed as TAP INTO grants, with a team from INTO and the University of Bristol jointly making the decision about which proposals to support with funding. If you’re interested to apply, please read the information about grant conditions below.

• What are the historic connections between plants and histories of enslavement around the Atlantic world?
• How do we develop ethical public histories of enslavement that centre a praxis of care for those involved?
• How can plants, gardens and green spaces serve healing memorial functions and be places of interpretation in ways that directly address calls for the public recognition of the connections between heritage sites and histories of enslavement?

We are keen to support projects that go beyond telling the stories of wealth creation for enslavers and instead focus on the experiences and lives of enslaved people.

All grant applications will be evaluated by a panel from INTO and the University of Bristol, according to the following criteria:

• Will the proposal lead to benefits for an INTO member trust in good standing?
• How strongly does the proposal engage with the research themes?
• Does the proposal represent new interpretation on a previously unexplored area?
• How deliverable is the proposal? Does it have a high chance of success?
• Does the proposal offer value for money?

If you are successful in receiving a grant, you will be asked to sign a INTO grant agreement, which will include the following conditions:

• You must complete the work between 1 January 2026 – 30 September 2026
• You must share regular updates with the RISE team, including photographic and financial evidence of the work that you have completed
• You must agree to welcome INTO and UoB partners to visit the site of your work if requested
• You must agree that INTO, UoB and our partners can use the materials you share to publicise the outcomes of your work, including in possible academic publications
• You must acknowledge the donors in any printed or published materials (this will include UKRI who are funding the Plants, Enslavement and Public History project)

The partnership team between INTO and UoB would also like to encourage an ethical approach to working with members of the local community. Please budget appropriately to ensure that people outside of your organisation are adequately compensated for their time, in keeping with best practice for the culture where you work.