Awarded in a partnership between the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust (WCMT) and the National Housing Federation, the awards involve issues ranging from low-energy homes to independent living for older people, support for homeless young women to intergenerational cohousing.

Award recipient Catriona Kinghorn will be travelling to Japan and the USA to explore the use of timber in producing low-energy homes before using her findings from overseas to inspire positive change in the UK upon her return.

“We are delighted to offer dedicated awards for new approaches to social and affordable housing,” said WCMT’s chief executive, Julia Weston. “As Churchill Fellows, they will use the inspirational ideas they gather from across the world to become game-changers in their field back home. This life-changing opportunity is open to everyone, with our next round of grants opening on 27 April.”

James Prestwich, head of policy at the National Housing Federation, said: “We are very pleased to support Churchill Fellows and this research into some of the most cutting-edge innovations being implemented abroad.

“A home that is affordable and safe is a basic need everyone has. The housing associations sector knows it can do even more to improve the lives of the people we serve, just by thinking differently about our homes, services and communities. We hope this research will lead to ideas that could revolutionise the way we deliver housing in the UK.”

The other award winners are:

Together they will receive grants totalling over £60,000 and travel to 13 countries across four continents. They are among 150 people who were selected this year from over 1,000 applicants to win a Churchill Fellowship to research issues across a range of sectors. The average length of a Fellowship is six weeks.

Churchill Fellowships are open to all UK citizens over 18, and the next chance to apply for a Fellowship opens on 27 April 2018. Application details are online at wcmt.org.uk.