Research question: What are the social and mental wellbeing benefits of intergenerational practices in care homes and schools?
Target group: Residents in care homes and children in primary education (applicants are invited to specify and justify age brackets used for each group – applicants should specify whether or not exclusion criteria will include residents with dementia)
Intervention: Intergenerational Practice, bringing the care home residents and primary school students together for group activities (applicants are invited to specify and justify the design of the intergenerational programme used, ensuring there is PPI input in the development, and should include a relevant plan for safeguarding in their application)
Important outcomes:
- children – happiness with a measure of feeling of isolation, confidence to engage with others of a different or same generation, attitudes towards older people
- care home residents – quality of life, happiness with a measure of feeling of isolation, confidence to engage with others of a different or same generation, attitudes towards younger people
- care providers – mental health, attitudes towards both target groups
A background document is available that provides further information to support your application. It is intended to summarise what prompted the funding opportunity and the existing evidence base, including relevant work from the Health Technology Assessment Programme and the wider NIHR research portfolio. It was researched and written based on information obtained from a search of relevant sources and databases, and in consultation with a number of experts in the field. If you would like a copy, please email htaresearchers@nihr.ac.uk.
ELIGIBILITY
This funding opportunity has no specific eligibility requirements.
VALUE AND DURATION
There is no fixed upper limit, but applications must demonstrate that the research will provide significant benefits relative to their costs.
KEY DATES
Outline application deadline: 27 November 2025 (1pm)
Outline application shortlisting decision and full application opening date: January 2026
Full application deadline: 19 March 2026
Full application decision: June 2026
Further details including application guidance can be found on the opportunity webpage and in the document below. Also attached is an outline application form template for use as a guide.