Funding

Strategic Fund

Our Strategic Fund has been one of the cornerstones of our 2017 – 2022 strategy.

Fund information


In 2018, we scaled up our grants funding to encourage researchers to develop original and challenging ideas, to work collaboratively across disciplines, and to influence social policy in a period of rapid change and uncertainty for our society.

From 2022, we will continue to fund larger, strategic projects of over £750,000 in value by embedding them into our core Research, Development and Analysis Fund. We will have one round of applications for these projects each year, which will enable us to assess similarly-sized applications at a fixed point.

Funded projects


Strategic grants awarded Lead researcher and institution Amount awarded Detail
IFS Deaton Review of Inequalities Led by Professor Sir Angus Deaton and the Institute of Fiscal Studies £2.6 million Examining how different kinds of inequality are related, which matter most, what is driving them, and the right mix of polices to tackle them.
Economy 2030 Inquiry

Completed December 2023

Led by Torsten Bell at the Resolution Foundation and Professor Stephen Machin from the London School of Economics £1.8 million Exploring three major challenges facing the UK economy – Brexit, COVID-19 and the transition to a zero-carbon future.
The Skills Imperative 2035 Led by Jude Hillary at the National Foundation for Education Research £2.5 million Identifying the essential employment skills people will need for work by 2035.
The Future of Work and Well-being Led by Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides at the Institute for the Future of Work £1.8 million Researching the implications of automation technologies and examining how they are transforming work, society and the economy in the UK.
Data and voice to improve children’s lives Led by Professor Leon Feinstein at the Rees Centre, University of Oxford £2.8 million Research to improve the lives of children and families by better understanding their needs and experiences.
Connecting pensions, health and care Led by Dr Olena Nizalova at the University of Kent £928,968 Research to explore a joined-up approach to old age support systems.
Teaching improvement through data and evaluation (TIDE) Led by Dr Calum Davey at the National Institute of Teaching £2.4 million Research to to improve outcomes for pupils by improving teacher development practices.

Seed corn projects


In the run-up to the deadline for the first round of applications to our Strategic Fund, we made a series of seed corn grants for applicants to do some initial exploration of ideas. Given the likely difficulties faced by researchers in conducting such exploration during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to enable us to prioritise support for applicants and grant-holders in responding to the implications of the pandemic for their work, we have closed applications for seed corn funding until further notice.

Seed corn grants awarded Researcher Institution Topic
Citizenship in a networked age Dr Dominic Burbidge Canterbury Institute
The Center for a Better Web Alex Krasodomski-Jones Centre for the Analysis of Social Media, Demos
Referendums and political legitimacy: evidence from four European countries Dr Sergiu Gherghina University of Glasgow
Fostering multi-disciplinary approaches to evidence use across public services Cat Scutt Chartered College of Teaching
Improving the pathways for the uptake of robust evidence Prof. Stephen Gorard Durham University
The impact of audit institutions on public sector performance Dr Thomas Elston University of Oxford
Risk: Interconnecting risks of mental health problems in today’s young people Dr Julian Edbooke-Childs Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
Universities and national security: Research and policy collaborations Prof. Liam Francis Gearon University of Oxford
Technology facilitated domestic abuse: Towards multidisciplinary enquiry Prof. Elizabeth Yardley Birmingham City University
Investigating the impact of datafied child welfare services Dr Joanna Redden Cardiff University
What do we need to do outside school to improve outcomes and narrow the gap? Jon Andrews Education Policy Institute
Access to advice: Size of the sector through secondary sources Lindsey Poole Advice Services Alliance
A social and data science approach to enhancing societal security Dr Susan Anson Trilateral Research
Delegation and acceptance of decisions taken by algorithms or by humans Dr Wolfgang Luhan University of Portsmouth
Exploring well-being and engagement with the hidden children’s workforce Dr Sarah Parry Manchester Metropolitan University
Equipping society to negotiate the basis for confidence in applications of data Tracey Brown Sense about Science
Trust and climate change: information for teaching in a digital age Dr Steven Puttick Department of Education
Social policy and race equality – a risk-based approach Prof. Gargi Bhattacharyya School of Social Sciences
Transforming organisations from engines of inequality to incubators of inclusion Prof. Kim Peters University of Exeter
Digital administrative justice: co-designing an empirical research programme Dr Joe Tomlinson York Law School
Behind closed doors Dr Su Mcanelly Department of Nursing Midwifery and Health

Open

Apply for funding

Visit our Research, Development and Analysis Fund page to check your eligibility and learn more about funding opportunities.

Learn more
 “The Nuffield Foundation champions rigorous research that influences public policy and improves social well-being and individuals’ lives. We want to encourage really ambitious projects that require the perspectives of different academic disciplines to re-frame the social policy agenda in the next decade. As an independent funder, our strength lies in our ability to give talented thinkers the freedom to develop original research ideas.” Tim Gardam, Chief Executive of the Nuffield Foundation

Explore our projects

Elevated view of students sitting and learning in computer room
New

Education | 2025 – 2027

Improving wellbeing-focused online media literacy in schools

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Childminder playing with toddler

Education | 2025 – 2027

Examining the challenges and benefits of childminding in England

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A front view of a two teenage girls on the minibus on the way to go on a hiking field trip. They are looking at one of the girls mobile phones and smiling.

Welfare | 2025 – 2027

A Digital Lives’ Framework for Counsellors and Psychotherapists

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Welfare | 2025 – 2028

Full Fact: Evidence-based responses to harmful misinformation

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Female electrician arrives at job. She is wearing an orange hi-vis jacket and behind her is a van.
New

Welfare | 2025 – 2026

Characterising the job ladder in England

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New

Welfare | 2025 – 2027

All women are born (un)equal: menopause, HRT and women’s well-being

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New

Justice | 2025 – 2027

Developing a mixed funding model for free legal advice

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Two people have their arms on the table while they speak at a tribunal. Someone is blurred on the over side of the table.

Justice | 2025 – 2026

Understanding and developing user-focused tribunal hearings

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New

Education | 2025 – 2026

Pupil wellbeing and increased persistent absenteeism: An investigation

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Rear View Of Girl Holding Ropes At Playground. She is wearing a coat and the sky is grey.
New

Justice | 2025 – 2027

 ‘The forgotten 10%’: private family law cases involving non-parents

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traditional detached house within residential estate in England UK, several houses in view have solar panels on the roof.
New

Welfare | 2025 – 2026

Distributional impacts of net zero on electricity consumers

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Portrait of a senior woman at home checking a letter in the mail
New

Welfare | 2025 – 2026

How can low earners afford a commensurate retirement income?

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New

Education | 2025 – 2026

Pupil wellbeing and increased persistent absenteeism: An investigation

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New

Justice | 2025 – 2027

Developing a mixed funding model for free legal advice

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traditional detached house within residential estate in England UK, several houses in view have solar panels on the roof.
New

Welfare | 2025 – 2026

Distributional impacts of net zero on electricity consumers

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Portrait of a senior woman at home checking a letter in the mail
New

Welfare | 2025 – 2026

How can low earners afford a commensurate retirement income?

View project
Female electrician arrives at job. She is wearing an orange hi-vis jacket and behind her is a van.
New

Welfare | 2025 – 2026

Characterising the job ladder in England

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Young well dressed businesswoman working on a computer at the office
In progress

Justice | 2024 – 2025

Developing a digital legal knowledge hub for social welfare law

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In progress

Education | 2023 – 2025

Interventions supporting early self-regulation: a systematic literature review

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New

Education | 2025

Implementing effective early education interventions at scale

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Shop assistant in supermarket re-stocking fresh vegetables in shelves of produce section.
New

Education | 2025 – 2026

Youth transitions to good employment: East Birmingham & North Solihull

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A front view of a two teenage girls on the minibus on the way to go on a hiking field trip. They are looking at one of the girls mobile phones and smiling.

Welfare | 2025 – 2027

A Digital Lives’ Framework for Counsellors and Psychotherapists

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Close up of a Young woman going over her retirement savings at home while using her laptop
New

Welfare | 2025 – 2026

Tackling the information gap in retirement saving decisions

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Two people have their arms on the table while they speak at a tribunal. Someone is blurred on the over side of the table.

Justice | 2025 – 2026

Understanding and developing user-focused tribunal hearings

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Young well dressed businesswoman working on a computer at the office
In progress

Justice | 2024 – 2025

Developing a digital legal knowledge hub for social welfare law

View project
In progress

Education | 2023 – 2025

Interventions supporting early self-regulation: a systematic literature review

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In progress

Education | 2024 – 2026

Beyond teacher assessed grades: Post-16 education choices and COVID-19

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Group of students sit around a table listening.
In progress

Education | 2024 – 2025

Educational dialogue for improving Foundation Year student outcomes

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In progress

Education | Justice | 2024 – 2027

Evaluating the Fundamental British Values initiative of the DfE

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In progress

Justice | 2024 – 2025

Immigration detention and the rule of law

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Happy woman talking to a colleague at work
In progress

Education | Welfare | 2024 – 2026

Employer investment in upskilling and reskilling in a changing economy

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A boy, wearing his PE kit, leans against the lockers. He's on his own in a corridor at school and is looking at the camera.
In progress

Education | 2024 – 2027

Out of sight: exclusions, alternative provision and later life outcomes 

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Commuters waiting to get on the tube. There are two men and two women. One woman is looking at her phone, looking concerned.
In progress

Welfare | 2024 – 2025

Routes to safety: Enhancing referrals to make victims of domestic abuse safer, sooner 

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Nursery child playing with teacher in the classroom
In progress

Education | 2024 – 2026

Achieving high-quality provision in the baby room of English nurseries

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In progress

Education | 2025 – 2026

Artificial intelligence and education

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A woman is sat on the edge of a bed staring at her phone while her daughter is in the background.
In progress

Welfare | 2023 – 2025

Virtual parent support portals: a new research and practice agenda

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New

Education | 2025 – 2026

Pupil wellbeing and increased persistent absenteeism: An investigation

View project
New

Justice | 2025 – 2027

Developing a mixed funding model for free legal advice

View project
traditional detached house within residential estate in England UK, several houses in view have solar panels on the roof.
New

Welfare | 2025 – 2026

Distributional impacts of net zero on electricity consumers

View project
Portrait of a senior woman at home checking a letter in the mail
New

Welfare | 2025 – 2026

How can low earners afford a commensurate retirement income?

View project
Female electrician arrives at job. She is wearing an orange hi-vis jacket and behind her is a van.
New

Welfare | 2025 – 2026

Characterising the job ladder in England

View project
New

Education | 2025

Implementing effective early education interventions at scale

View project
Shop assistant in supermarket re-stocking fresh vegetables in shelves of produce section.
New

Education | 2025 – 2026

Youth transitions to good employment: East Birmingham & North Solihull

View project
Close up of a Young woman going over her retirement savings at home while using her laptop
New

Welfare | 2025 – 2026

Tackling the information gap in retirement saving decisions

View project
New

Welfare | 2025 – 2027

All women are born (un)equal: menopause, HRT and women’s well-being

View project
baby eating fruit on highchair
New

Welfare | 2025 – 2026

Impact of the cost of childcare on parental mobility

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SEND pupil drawing in classroom
New

Education | 2025 – 2026

The uneven distribution of pupils with SEND in mainstream schools

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Pre-school students sitting in an art classroom being taught by a teacher. The classroom is colourful and the children are sat at a big table.
New

Education | 2024 – 2025

A comparative analysis of EY workforce policy in the four UK nations

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Reported

Justice | 2019 – 2023

Born into care: best practice guidelines

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Reception class children using a parachute in a PE lesson
Reported

Education | 2022 – 2023

A movement and story-telling intervention for reception children

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Reported

Education | Welfare | 2022 – 2024

Understanding school attendance, education and labour market outcomes

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Grandparents having fun outdoors with their granddaughter, who is eating an apple and laughing: Understanding family and community vulnerabilities in transition to net zero
Reported

Welfare | 2021 – 2023

Understanding family and community vulnerabilities in transition to net zero

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Father and son using laptop at home
Reported

Welfare | 2021 – 2025

Developing a minimum digital living standard for households with children

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Reported

Justice | 2021 – 2023

Delivering administrative justice after the pandemic

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Side view of two female high school students in classroom working on laptops social distancing. Student in foreground is in focus and student in background is blurred
Reported

Education | 2021 – 2022

COVID-19 and disadvantage gaps in England 2020 and 2021

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Siblings play ball in a playground - Siblings Contact and the Law
Reported

Justice | 2020 – 2021

Guidance to judges on the anonymisation of children judgements

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Lawyer taking witness statement from male witness
Reported

Justice | 2019 – 2021

The production of witness statements by lawyers and litigants in person

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Close up of a young girl and her father wearing protective face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic outside.
Reported

Welfare | 2021 – 2023

The Economy 2030 Inquiry: navigating a decade of change

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Young boy draws and plays with a globe as part of nursery education
Reported

Education | 2020 – 2022

COVID-19 and childcare: local impacts across England

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Reported

Justice | 2020 – 2022

When is a wedding not a marriage? Exploring non-legally binding ceremonies

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