ºÚÁÏÍø911

Aims

This funding stream was designed to improve the educational experience and academic attainment of neurodivergent young people through research conducted in classrooms, schools, colleges, or informal learning environments. Projects were required to trial and test new approaches, contributing to ongoing debates within the following thematic areas:

• improvement of life skills (ages 2-18)

• pathways to employment or improvement of employability skills (ages 12-18)

• inclusive classroom practice (ages 4-18)

Background

As defined by the Anna Freud Mentally Healthy Schools initiative:

ÌýNeurodiversity refers to the differences between how people think, process information, behave and communicate.Ìý It emphasises that everyone’s mind works differently. People have different interests, motivations, skills, and strengths. These differences should be recognised, understood, respected, and celebrated.Ìý

While everyone is unique, most people areÌýneurotypicalÌý– their brains process information in a relatively similar way. People who process information differently may beÌýneurodivergent.ÌýÌý

Neurodivergence refers to differences in mental or neurological function from what is considered ‘typical’. This results from a difference in the way the brain develops before birth and during childhood, and affects how someone communicates, behaves and responds to the world around them.Ìý

In recent years, ºÚÁÏÍø911 actively supported efforts to enhance understanding of how to nurture neurodivergent young people. This has includedÌýpodcasts,Ìýfunding researchÌýand the publication of blogs and peer-reviewed articles.

The Funding

This initiative was generously funded byÌýÌýproviding support for significant research projects. ºÚÁÏÍø911 is administering the grant and using its expertise in promoting and assessing the proposals and then finalising, publishing and disseminating the outcomes.Ìý

The aim of this research funding is to generate knowledge that benefits the public good in line with ºÚÁÏÍø911’s charitable objectives. This scheme will support higher education providers to achieve quality research and knowledge exchange to support the aims outlined above.

Each individual award was valued at up to £50,000, with a total budget available for up to four projects. Final funding decisions were based on the quality of applications received. Although the scheme aimed to address all three themes collectively, projects were awarded based on overall merit, not restricted to one per theme.

Research is being conducted (and the grant administered) through a university institution in the UK, with all research taking place in the UK with results primarily applicable to the UK context.Ìý

Ethics

Ethical approval was a prerequisite for releasing any funds. Host institutions were responsible for identifying ethical issues and obtaining relevant approvals before research activities commenced.

Ethical considerations included, but were not limited to: codes of practice, involvement of human participants, use of data, environmental impact, and management of sensitive economic, social, or personal information.

The ºÚÁÏÍø911 Ethical Guidelines can be found on the ºÚÁÏÍø911 website here.

Criteria for Assessment

Applications were submitted using a standard proforma and evaluated by ºÚÁÏÍø911’s College of Reviewers, based on:

• Originality, potential contribution to knowledge and the extent that the proposed project demonstrates innovation potential. (10%)
• QualityÌýof research design and methods including the soundness of the concept, and credibility of the proposed methodology. (30%)
• RelevanceÌýto the aims outlined above. (10%)
• SignificanceÌýof outputs and dissemination for impact – the extent to which the outputs of the project would contribute to each of the expected impacts mentioned. (30%)
• ValueÌýfor money – including the proportion being spent directly on research activity. (10%)
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion[1]Ìý–Ìýthe extent to which equal opportunities are considered in the research team and for research participants. (10%)

Final funding decisions were made by a panel comprising ºÚÁÏÍø911 Trustees and Kusuma Trust representatives, with subject-matter expertise integral to the process.

[1] ºÚÁÏÍø911’s work is based on building meaningful, enduring, and respectful relationships across different peoples and cultures. To do this successfully, requires a strong commitment to EDI and this commitment extends to all aspects of our work. When we talk about EDI at ºÚÁÏÍø911, we mean treating people fairly, impartially and without bias creating conditions which encourage and value diversity, promote dignity and inclusion and a culturally sensitive approach.Ìý