Applications for the CAP seed grants are currently closed, the last application deadline was the 25th of September 2008. The grants awarded under that round can be found here.

Click here to download a copy of the Research Seed Grant Application Guidelines

Application Guidelines (2008):

Established in 2006, the Changing Ageing Partnership funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies is a partnership between:

Cap’s vision is of creating a strong, informed voice capable of challenging attitudes and approaches to ageing. To this end, the Institute of Governance is leading the development of a robust evidence base within Queen’s University to inform policy development with respect to ageing/older people.

1. Aim of the Seed Grant scheme
The Cap Research Seed Grant scheme aims to stimulate and develop research across the University focused on ageing and the needs of older people, by strengthening the capacity of staff to obtain long-term and large-scale research funding in this area. Since the inception of the scheme in September 2006 thirteen seed grants have been awarded to researchers from a wide range of disciplines including: architecture, anthropology, law, medicine, psychology and sociology. The grants enable researchers to undertake, primary or secondary research related to ageing/older people. For example, the researcher/s may carry out a small pilot study or an extended literature review or they may perform secondary analysis on existing data/statistics. The resulting work can then be used as a foundation on which the researchers can base applications to attract additional large-scale funding for other long-term research.

2. Financial Basis of the Grant
Grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 are available and are tenable for up to 12 months beginning in October 2008.

3. Eligibility
Applications are invited from individuals/teams across the University, who can demonstrate the relevance of their proposed research to the goals of Cap. Background information on Cap and the various strands, including research is available on the Cap website: http://www.changingageing.org Electronic applications are acceptable. The deadline for receipt of applications is 4pm on Thursday 25th September 2008.

4. Suitable Applicants
The Cap Seed Grants are intended to provide opportunities for research-active staff, from across the University, to develop a research portfolio relevant to policy focused on ageing/older people. The principal purpose of the awards is to act as a springboard, stimulating the generation of large-scale and long-term research funding. It is therefore likely that the applicant/s will be experienced researchers, with a strong track record in the research area or the proposed methodology.

5. Suitable Fields
Applicants for the Cap Seed Grant should ultimately be intending to use their study, or the product of their analysis, to pursue original, independent research on ageing in any field of study within the humanities or social sciences. Research proposals focused on the following areas are encouraged:
• Ageism
• Arts: music, dance, drama, painting…
• Community planning
• Concept analysis of ‘older people’
• Cost benefit analysis
• Citizenship and dementia
• Devolution
• Environment
• Feasibility of the extension of the Irish Longitudinal study (TILDA) to NI
• Fuel Poverty
• Housing
• Intergenerational
• Impact of life long learning
• Multiple identity
• Older men
• Older people and leadership
• Participation in sport and physical activity
• Quality of life
• Reminiscence
• Social and economic contribution of older people to society
• Rights
• Transport
• The role and scope of the Commissioner for older people

6. Criteria
Applications will be assessed using the following criteria:
• Timeliness and relevance to the policy agenda
• Involvement of older people at all stages of the research process
• Potential to attract further funding and to develop into a larger study
• Feasibility of the study within the timescale and budget available.

7. Deliverables
On completion of their work, the successful applicants will be required to deliver the following:
• Two policy focussed seminars
• A research report
• A two page summary document written for the lay person
• One peer reviewed academic publication
The Institute of Governance reserves the right to provide access to all emergent papers through its web page.

Further information
Applicants in any doubt about their eligibility or any other aspect of their application are advised to contact Dr Una Lynch, Research Manager, Changing Ageing Partnership ext: 3650 u.lynch@qub.ac.uk