Funded through the Vivensa Foundation Excellence Award for Senior Leadership, awarded to PenARC’s Professor Vicki Goodwin, this scheme supports early and mid-career researchers to develop inclusive and participatory research in the field of ageing.
Aims of the Scheme
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Encourage early involvement of the public, patients and communities in shaping research ideas related to ageing and age-related conditions.
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Promote equity, diversity and inclusion through meaningful engagement with underrepresented or underserved groups.
Funding Details
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Award amount: £500 per successful application
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Application period: September 2025 – August 2026
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Eligibility: Early and mid-career researchers in the field of ageing or age-related diseases
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Applications open year-round, with review panels meeting quarterly.
Eligibility Criteria
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Open to early and mid-career researchers who are members of the Vivensa Foundation Academy (membership is free – apply here).
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Applicants must not have access to funding for engagement or inclusion through other grants or fellowships.
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Researchers may be based in a university, NHS or local authority setting, anywhere in the UK.
What Can Be Funded?
The proposed activity must:
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Relate to public, patient or community engagement, or research inclusion.
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Be connected to ageing or age-related diseases.
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Have a clear purpose, e.g., informing a research grant or fellowship application
- Funds cannot be used for research activities, training, or conference attendance.
Eligible costs include:
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Payments to public contributors for their time
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Venue hire and refreshments for engagement activities
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Consumables for engagement events
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Costs to support inclusion, such as interpreters, translation, carer support, internet or travel expenses
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Dissemination activities focused on engaging underserved communities.
How to Apply
Submit your application using the online Microsoft Form:
🔗 Application Form
Application Deadlines:
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30th September 2025 (5pm)
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9th January 2026 (5pm)
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31th March 2026 (5pm)
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30th June 2026 (5pm)
You’ll be notified of the outcome within one month of each deadline. Please note that successful applicants may not apply again.
Once awarded, the full £500 grant will be transferred to your host organisation in advance. You’ll need to provide finance contact details to facilitate this.
Resources to Support Your Application
Contact
For queries or further information, please contact: vivensa@exeter.ac.uk.