Addressing the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic

In 2020, we responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by awarding £2.3 million in fast-track funding. Our COVID-19 projects have captured real-time data and insights into the social and economic impacts of the crisis.

In March 2020, we put out a rapid response call for research proposals that would gather evidence on the lived experience of the emerging COVID-19 pandemic. These projects have provided timely and robust data and analysis to help shape understanding of, and policy and practice responses to, the social, cultural and economic effects of the different phases of the crisis.

Across all parts of the Foundation, we drew on our strengths and expertise to contribute to the pandemic response, with a focus on the well-being of those most at risk from its impacts.

Policy and practice impact of our COVID-19 response

Findings from our COVID-19 research projects have been influential in many policy discussions and together, offered a multifaceted perspective on the crisis. Our research has helped to identify who is most affected by the pandemic, in what ways, and what might be the most appropriate response from policy and practice. We worked with our grant-holders to ensure their findings were disseminated, not only to the media and public but also directly to decision-makers.

For example, our COVID-19 project teams have submitted evidence to relevant committees and inquiries, such as the House of Lords Select Committee on Food, Poverty, Health and the Environment, the Education Select Committee, and the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Teaching Profession.

We synthesised research evidence from across the Foundation in a substantive contribution to the British Academy report for the Government Chief Scientific Adviser on the social effects and policy implications of the pandemic.

Mental health and well-being

Over 70,000 people have been completing weekly online surveys since March 2020 as part of the UCL COVID-19 Social Study. The project team have regularly published their survey results and analysis to provide real-time insights into the psychological and social impacts of the pandemic as people responded to rising infection and mortality rates and changing restrictions. The survey has shown that many pre-existing inequalities have been exacerbated by the pandemic.

The study’s Principal Investigator, Dr Daisy Fancourt, has communicated the research evidence to the public via frequent national media appearances and engaged with decision-makers through briefings to the Cabinet Office, Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), WHO, NHS England and Public Health England. The study has been influential in planning for mental health service demand, predicting adherence to lockdown measures and identifying groups in need of social or psychological support.

Disruption to education

The Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI), our flagship oral intervention programme, has been rolled out across schools as a key part of the government’s catch-up package for disadvantaged students. Over one-third of primary schools have now signed up and the DfE has increased its target to 40% of primary schools, backed by a £9 million investment.

Two of our education projects, led by Dr Sarah Cattan at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) and Caroline Sharp at the National Foundation for Education Research (NFER), revealed the differential effects of school closures, both in relation to children’s engagement with remote schooling and the consequent ‘learning gaps’, and the gender differences in how parents balanced paid work and parenting. Both projects contributed directly to changes in government policy towards school closures, home learning, provision of technology and contact and support for disengaged and disadvantaged children. Our Education Director, Josh Hillman was subsequently invited to speak about Nuffield‑funded education research at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Education Technology.

Child food poverty

The Food Foundation, of which we are a funder, provided the evidence that underpinned the successful campaign by the Child Food Poverty Task Force, formed by Marcus Rashford. The campaign secured an extension of the holiday activity and food programme to all children in receipt of free school meals in England and increasing the value of Healthy Start vouchers to £4.25.

Exacerbating existing inequalities

The IFS Deaton Review of Inequalities and the Resolution Foundation’s Intergenerational Audit – both underway before the pandemic – produced findings in 2020 that revealed the extent to which the pandemic is both exacerbating existing inequalities and creating new ones. This research helped to shift the public debate from a simplistic and misleading narrative of COVID-19 as an equalising force. The IFS Deaton Review reported on the higher mortality and infection rates of some ethnic groups, on the differential economic impacts, and on the dangers of aggregating all ethnic minority groups together, which misses important differences.

Across the Foundation

The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory was asked by Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division to undertake two rapid consultations on the use of remote hearings in the family court, first in April and again in September. Findings from the first consultation informed Sir Andrew’s framework document, which set out the road ahead for the family justice system, including good practice in managing remote hearings.

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics produced a series of policy briefings that have been influential in the UK and global response to COVID-19. Guidance from the Council was referenced in a World Health Organisation briefing on the ethical conduct of COVID-19 research. The Council was invited to present their research at a meeting of the Treasury, Department of Health and Social Care, the Cabinet Office, and Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office. The Council’s Director, Hugh Whittall, gave evidence to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee’s inquiry into the science of COVID-19.

The Ada Lovelace Institute’s rapid evidence review of the technical considerations and societal implications of using technology to transition from the COVID-19 crisis, Exit through the app store? was referenced in the Biometrics Commissioner’s statement on the use of symptom tracking applications and in the Information Commissioner’s Office report on COVID-related technologies. Darren Jones MP referenced the report in the evidence he submitted to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee.

Looking ahead

The pandemic and its impacts will continue to unfold over the coming months and years, and we will build on the work we have done so far to play our part in alleviating its negative consequences, particularly for those worst affected.

Many of our COVID-19 projects are ongoing and continue to have policy and practice impact. We will continue to fund research on the social and economic impacts of the pandemic through our Research, Development and Analysis Fund.