LINKs Scheme Frequently Asked Questions

The aims of the LINKs scheme are to promote animal welfare science and the objectives of Science for Animal Welfare. The LINK will do this by engaging students and staff at LINK institutions with the science of animal welfare, thereby increasing their understanding of it.

The LINK is a person employed at a university or similar higher education institution who understands and shares the approach of Science for Animal Welfare in promoting the science of animal welfare. The applicant must work for a higher education institution that teaches animal welfare science and has an active research programme in animal welfare science. The LINK acts as the point of contact between Science for Animal Welfare and the institution’s staff and students.

The scheme is dependent on the LINK having close and regular contact with students. It is also important that students have easy access to the LINK and feel comfortable approaching them.

By agreeing to act as the Science for Animal Welfare LINK, you will:

• Raise awareness and share information about Science for Animal Welfare with students and staff
• Inform staff and students about Science for Animal Welfare activities and grants
• Encourage students who might wish to form student animal welfare science groups
• Be a liaison between students/staff and Science for Animal Welfare
• Advise Science for Animal Welfare on further ways of promoting Science for Animal Welfare at the institution.

Being a Science for Animal Welfare LINK is an informal agreement between Science for Animal Welfare and the individual agreeing to act as a LINK, and not a formal collaboration between the LINK institution and the Charity.

As part of the LINKs Scheme, a LINK institution is eligible to apply for Science for Animal Welfare student scholarships.

Additionally, the Science for Animal Welfare LINK can apply for funding to support animal welfare science related activities at the LINK institution.

This sum is made available from April to April. Please note that funds are limited and not all applications are successful.

A prospective LINK must be able to agree to and implement activities on behalf of the institution. They should also be actively involved in animal welfare research. Please supply information about the institution, (e.g. the date it was founded, whether it is public or private, the number of students and staff), the nature and level of courses that the institution offers, especially with regard to animal welfare content, the prospective LINK’s role in them and the amount of regular contact they have with students. We also ask for some details on the prospective LINK’s background, research interests, their publications, and CV.

We are keen to support any activity that educates, informs, or encourages engagement with animal welfare science at the LINK institution. The activity should have animal welfare at its core and benefit the greatest number of people. Such activities should be directed at the LINK institution’s students and staff and should be free for them to engage with (although we allow the charging of a small fee to cover the provision of refreshments at an activity).

For example, funds could be used to meet the expenses of guest external lecturers in animal welfare science, or other expenses incurred by running the activity, or to meet essential costs in organising student workshops, seminars, or student fund-raising activities for Science for Animal Welfare.

Funding could also cover the costs of a trip to see issues that are of animal welfare interest that otherwise would not have been possible within their normal programme of learning.

For details of the funding, please see our Terms and Conditions.

For details of what we will not fund, please see our Terms and Conditions.

Science for Animal Welfare’s support should be made clear during the activity, on slides and materials, and any promotional materials created for the activity such as social media posts, emails, flyers and posters. LINKs will be provided with access to Science for Animal Welfare’s brand, logo and other relevant materials on request.

We request a short report on the activity (including the location of the activity, details of any speakers and/or talks, and the number of people who participated/attended), its benefit to animal welfare and to the LINK institutions staff and students’ knowledge and engagement with the area. This should be submitted shortly after the activity.  

We also ask LINKs to share a few photos for us to publish in Science for Animal Welfare communications about the activities (e.g. on our website, in news stories, our email newsletters, social media posts or reports). The photos should be high quality and included as separate attachments alongside the report. Please obtain permission from everyone in the photo before sharing. 

Please email links@scienceforanimalwelfare.org for more information about the LINKs scheme.