2025–2026 Collaborative Funding Opportunities (Round 2): Born in Bradford Centre for Social Change at York

The Born in Bradford (BiB) Centre for Social Change at the University of York invites researchers from any department to collaborate on impactful, community and policy-focused research that aligns with our mission to drive social change and improve health, wellbeing, and social outcomes.

BiB CSC is particularly keen to encourage researchers and disciplines who are new to BiB to engage with them, bringing fresh ideas and approaches to our collaboration. The centre is seeking collaboration with researchers from all faculties, schools and departments within the university. If you think your research can align with our mission, then please apply.

The Centre seeks to accelerate and amplify impactful health, social, and economic research within the University of York and Born in Bradford partnership. By fostering a collaborative and participatory approach, the Centre maximises opportunities to shape local and national policy, with a particular focus on advancing public health and reducing inequalities.

The Born in Bradford research programme is an internationally recognised, long-term initiative which includes three birth cohort studies: Born in Bradford (including BiB Age of Wonder), Born in Bradford’s Better Start (BiBBS), and BiB4All, alongside many connected projects focusing on health and place. This research resource provides invaluable insights into children's health, development, and wellbeing, helping us to understand what keeps families healthy and happy across diverse populations.

Find out more about BiB and its rich data

Apply here

Applications should be submitted by close of play 31st January 2026

We encourage researchers to develop innovative projects that do the following:

Leverage BiB’s rich data and wider resources
Advance understanding of child development, healthy places, inequalities. and health and wellbeing outcomes, in collaboration with partners at BiB and in Bradford
Engage and empower communities
Deliver evidence to inform policy and contribute to meaningful social change
Have potential for further external funding

Call Specifications

We are particularly seeking applications from University of York researchers that align with the Centre's key research priorities and foster collaboration between BiB staff, Bradford communities, and policy stakeholders (see for example, Bradford Council areas of research interest).

Support is available for research in the following fields:

Key research priorities
Health and Wellbeing Addressing health and wellbeing challenges, with a strong emphasis on children and young people’s mental health, including inequalities and disparities in access and outcomes.
Youth and Young Adult Opportunities and Transitions (18+) This theme focuses on support for young people as they transition into adulthood, helping to bridge economic–health divides. Research should align with key policy drivers (e.g. Healthy Working Life, Combined Authorities), address labour market and economic gaps linked to health or wellbeing outcomes, and/or could explore entry routes into growth sectors such as the Creative Industries (gaming, tech, audio-visual). Collaboration with community, industry and/or policy partners is expected.
Tolerance, Justice, and Discrimination This theme focuses on practical interventions to address challenges faced by 18–24 year olds, for example, around employment, aspirations, future planning, social mobility and social inclusion. Research and practical interventions of focus within this theme must aim to reduce discrimination, promote justice, and foster inclusion, while being policy-relevant with clear pathways to real-world impact. Collaboration with communities and policy partners is essential, ensuring projects are grounded in the lived realities of diverse young people.
Healthy Urban Places This theme focuses on exploring how to create sustainable, health-focused urban environments that promote equity, well-being, and resilience. Research should tackle urgent urban challenges such as climate change, community cohesion, economic inclusion, pollution, biodiversity loss, and/or environmental degradation, with practical applications in northern cities, for example, retrofitting housing, greener transport, community wealth building and other scalable solutions. Proposals should combine scientific innovation with policy relevance (e.g., drawing on expertise from atmospheric science, economics, and Green Book appraisal) and community involvement, to deliver clear pathways to net-zero goals and healthier urban living.
Mental Health This theme focuses on broad, interdisciplinary approaches to mental health, with a strong focus on children and young people’s wellbeing. Proposals should tackle inequalities and disparities in access to services and outcomes, while considering wider social and structural factors that underpin mental health, including early years and life-course interventions. We encourage cross-disciplinary collaborations and participatory approaches that can support innovative, policy-relevant interventions to tackle mental health inequalities and improve outcomes for young people.

Key research priorities

Health and Wellbeing

Addressing health and wellbeing challenges, with a strong emphasis on children and young people’s mental health, including inequalities and disparities in access and outcomes.

Youth and Young Adult Opportunities and Transitions (18+)

This theme focuses on support for young people as they transition into adulthood, helping to bridge economic–health divides. Research should align with key policy drivers (e.g. Healthy Working Life, Combined Authorities), address labour market and economic gaps linked to health or wellbeing outcomes, and/or could explore entry routes into growth sectors such as the Creative Industries (gaming, tech, audio-visual). Collaboration with community, industry and/or policy partners is expected.

Tolerance, Justice, and Discrimination

This theme focuses on practical interventions to address challenges faced by 18–24 year olds, for example, around employment, aspirations, future planning, social mobility and social inclusion. Research and practical interventions of focus within this theme must aim to reduce discrimination, promote justice, and foster inclusion, while being policy-relevant with clear pathways to real-world impact. Collaboration with communities and policy partners is essential, ensuring projects are grounded in the lived realities of diverse young people.

Healthy Urban Places

This theme focuses on exploring how to create sustainable, health-focused urban environments that promote equity, well-being, and resilience. Research should tackle urgent urban challenges such as climate change, community cohesion, economic inclusion, pollution, biodiversity loss, and/or environmental degradation, with practical applications in northern cities, for example, retrofitting housing, greener transport, community wealth building and other scalable solutions. Proposals should combine scientific innovation with policy relevance (e.g., drawing on expertise from atmospheric science, economics, and Green Book appraisal) and community involvement, to deliver clear pathways to net-zero goals and healthier urban living.

Mental Health

This theme focuses on broad, interdisciplinary approaches to mental health, with a strong focus on children and young people’s wellbeing. Proposals should tackle inequalities and disparities in access to services and outcomes, while considering wider social and structural factors that underpin mental health, including early years and life-course interventions. We encourage cross-disciplinary collaborations and participatory approaches that can support innovative, policy-relevant interventions to tackle mental health inequalities and improve outcomes for young people.

If you have a great research idea that that aligns with one of our key research priorities, we'd encourage you to contact us at TYPE@york.ac.uk

Funding Details

We will provide funding to support successful applications under the following streams:

Funding Details

Project Duration: 1 year–18 months

Maximum Funding Available: Up to £20,000

Funding can support initiatives, including but not limited to:

Pilot Research – Laying the groundwork for future external funding applications
Data-Driven Research – Utilising BiB data to develop hypothesis-led studies.
Impact-Focused Projects – Engaging with Bradford communities or policymakers to drive meaningful change

Eligible Expenses:
Applicants must provide a detailed budget in their application. Eligible expenses may include:

Funding may cover existing staff time only if essential for project delivery and no other options exist. Priority is given to funding outputs and impact.
Costs for research assistants directly involved in the project.
Expenses directly related to necessary project activities.
Costs for workshops, events, or other project-related meetings.
Expenses essential for project implementation.

Applications should demonstrate a clear connection to the Centre’s overarching goals and priorities. Applications should be submitted by close of play 31st January 2026

Apply now

Criteria for Selection

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Does the proposal align with the outlined key research themes?
Does the proposal address inequalities?
Does the proposal connect directly with Born in Bradford (BiB) by engaging with its data, staff or existing research initiatives.

Does the project actively involve communities and/or policy stakeholders in Bradford
Does the project foster collaborations with researchers across the Institutes?

Collaboration and Co-Production: Will the research deliver tangible benefits for communities, particularly in Bradford and beyond? i) collaboration with other departments at York to encourage cross discipline ii) community engagement and collaborate with other external institutions?
Does the project have the potential to lead to further funding opportunities, ensuring long-term impact and sustainability?

Are the proposed objectives realistic and achievable within the funding and timeline provided?
Does the project demonstrate a clear and practical plan for execution?

We look forward to receiving your applications.

For further information please contact type@york.ac.uk