Funded through the Vivensa Foundation Excellence Award for Senior Leadership, awarded to ARC South West’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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Facilitate early engagement with the public, patients and communities for the development of ageing related research ideas
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Promote research inclusion through engagement with underserved groups.
Funding Details
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Award amount: £500 per successful application
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Application period: June 2026 – April 2027
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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
- Funding cannot be used to undertake research, for training and development purposes or for conference costs.
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
We advise that you read the full awards guidance before applying. Please ensure you meet all the eligibility criteria, to avoid disappointment.
Application Deadlines:
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31st July 2026
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30th October 2026
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31st January 2027
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30th April 2027
You should be notified of the outcome within one month of each deadline. Please note that successful applicants may not apply again in future.
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.