The Caregiving Support Award for Ageing Research provides financial support to help early and mid-career researchers meet additional childcare or dependent-care costs incurred as a direct result of attending conferences, training events, or other capacity-building activities related to ageing research. Funded through the Vivensa Academy Excellence Award (awarded to Dr Toby Ellmers), this scheme aims to promote accessibility, equity, and inclusivity within the ageing research community.
A dependant is a partner, child or parent, or someone who lives with you as part of your family. This could be, for example, an older aunt or grandparent. It does not include tenants or boarders who may be living in your family home.
We particularly welcome applications from researchers who face structural barriers to conference participation due to caring responsibilities.
The award provides up to £500 per applicant.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must:
- Be an early or mid-career researcher (academic or clinical; <10 years since terminal degree award) working in the field of ageing or age-related diseases
- Be a member of the Vivensa Academy (membership is free and applications can be made online here)
- Be based in a UK organisation, either at a UK-university or other eligible research organisation, NHS organisation (including Health and Social Care organisations within Northern Ireland), local authority, or social care organisation
- Be attending a conference, training event, or other capacity-building activity directly related to ageing research or age-related diseases
Payments will be made only upon receipt of appropriate supporting documentation, including confirmation of attendance and itemised receipts or invoices for claimed costs, in compliance with the Imperial College Expense Policy.
What can be funded?
The award may be used to cover:
- Home-based childcare or dependent-care costs incurred specifically as a result of attendance at the relevant event (excluding normal, ongoing care costs)
- Travel costs for a relative or other care provider to travel to the applicant’s home to provide care during the period of attendance
- Additional costs to existing childcare or dependent-care arrangements that arise directly because of event attendance
Only one award will be granted per individual.
Deadline
In the first instance, the award will be open until 11:59pm Monday 29th June (or until the available funding is allocated). Up to 10 awards will be granted and applications will be assessed and awarded on a rolling basis.
How to apply
If you meet the eligibility criteria listed above, please complete an application by following the Qualtrics link below. Please note, the application consists of some basic information and then a short (200-word maximum) supporting statement describing how attending the specific conference, training or other capacity building event will help develop your career within ageing research.