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 in March, 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

New

Education | 2025 – 2026

Investigating performance across Key Stage 2 maths topics

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Teacher with secondary pupils
New

Education | 2024 – 2028

Teaching improvement through data and evaluation (TIDE)

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New

Welfare | 2024 – 2027

Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Youth: mitigating exclusions using the digital?

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A front view of a father and his two children. He is carrying his young son in his arms and his daughter is riding her scooter along the footpath as he pushes his son's scooter along the way.
New

Justice | Welfare | 2024 – 2026

Challenging justice inequalities with children in conflict with the law 

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New

Education | 2024 – 2026

Long-term outcomes of high-achieving disadvantaged children

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New

Education | 2024 – 2026

Exploring academic selection and grammar schools in Northern Ireland

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New

Education | 2024 – 2026

Pupil school mobility: types, pathways and implications for education

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New

Justice | 2024 – 2026

Breaking networks of youth serious violence

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New

Justice | 2024 – 2024

Crossing Boundaries: Co-designing support for vulnerable young people

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New

Education | 2024 – 2026

Can digital parenting interventions benefit early language development?

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New

Welfare | 2024 – 2027

Performance Tracker 

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Little girls in primary school uniform

Education | 2024 – 2026

Developing a classroom intervention to improve conversation skills

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A front view of a father and his two children. He is carrying his young son in his arms and his daughter is riding her scooter along the footpath as he pushes his son's scooter along the way.
New

Justice | Welfare | 2024 – 2026

Challenging justice inequalities with children in conflict with the law 

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New

Education | 2024 – 2026

Pupil school mobility: types, pathways and implications for education

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New

Justice | 2024 – 2024

Crossing Boundaries: Co-designing support for vulnerable young people

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Teacher with secondary pupils
New

Education | 2024 – 2028

Teaching improvement through data and evaluation (TIDE)

View project
Secondary school music teacher smiles at students working together at a keyboard.
New

Education | 2024 – 2025

Teacher recruitment & retention challenges in England

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New

Welfare | 2024 – 2027

Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Youth: mitigating exclusions using the digital?

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New

Education | 2024 – 2026

A feasibility and pilot trial of the Early Years Library

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New

Welfare | 2024 – 2027

Performance Tracker 

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New

Education | 2024 – 2026

Can digital parenting interventions benefit early language development?

View project
Mother wearing hijab holding her toddler son on her knee, smiling at each other
New

Welfare | 2024 – 2025

Afghan resettlement in England: outcomes and experiences 

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New

Education | 2025 – 2026

Investigating performance across Key Stage 2 maths topics

View project
three women walking along street laughing and smiling
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2025

Revealing social capital

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In progress

Education | 2023 – 2024

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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Two little boys and a little girl, all wearing primary school uniform, work together to solve a puzzle in their classroom.
In progress

Education | 2023 – 2025

What has ‘Free School Meals’ measured and what are the implications?

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Teenager hugging their mother
In progress

Welfare | 2023 – 2026

The long-term effects of being a young carer

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Elderly woman and adult daughter out shopping
In progress

Welfare | 2023 – 2026

Connecting pensions, health and care

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Father and daughter having fun at home
In progress

Education | 2023 – 2024

Optimisation and feasibility of Triple P parenting programme for remote delivery

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Early years professionals playing with children
In progress

Education | 2022 – 2024

Understanding the take-up of early education entitlements

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Primary school children using a microscope during a lesson outside at school
In progress

Education | 2023 – 2025

Purposeful and effective practical work in primary school science

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Male and female apprentices looking at car engine
In progress

Education | 2022 – 2025

Work or study? Gender and the transition from school to work

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Mother, father, son and daughter standing in front of their house
In progress

Welfare | 2023 – 2025

A regional regeneration index to track socioeconomic ‘Levelling Up’

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Two teenage male pupils study a science lesson as part of their post-16 options
In progress

Education | 2019 – 2024

Post-16 pathways: the role of peers, family background and expectations

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Man working on a laptop using sign language on a video call
In progress

Welfare | 2023 – 2024

Designing inclusive remote and hybrid working to support disabled workers

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New

Justice | 2024 – 2024

Crossing Boundaries: Co-designing support for vulnerable young people

View project
Secondary school music teacher smiles at students working together at a keyboard.
New

Education | 2024 – 2025

Teacher recruitment & retention challenges in England

View project
New

Welfare | 2024 – 2027

Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Youth: mitigating exclusions using the digital?

View project
New

Education | 2024 – 2026

A feasibility and pilot trial of the Early Years Library

View project
New

Welfare | 2024 – 2027

Performance Tracker 

View project
New

Education | 2024 – 2026

Can digital parenting interventions benefit early language development?

View project
Mother wearing hijab holding her toddler son on her knee, smiling at each other
New

Welfare | 2024 – 2025

Afghan resettlement in England: outcomes and experiences 

View project
New

Education | 2025 – 2026

Investigating performance across Key Stage 2 maths topics

View project
three women walking along street laughing and smiling
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2025

Revealing social capital

View project
New

Education | 2024 – 2026

Vocabulary for Reading: the power of words

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New

Education | 2024 – 2026

Spending across different stages of education

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New

Education | 2024 – 2026

Exploring academic selection and grammar schools in Northern Ireland

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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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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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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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Reported

Education | 2020 – 2022

Ethical principles underpinning co-production with young people

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Reported

Education | 2020 – 2021

COVID-19 mitigation measures: education provision and access to special schools

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