The NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS) is today (1 February) pre-announcing its open funding call for research and evidence projects.
The funding call is open to all staff that work within an ARC KSS member organisation and must meet the following criteria:
All projects should:
- Address a clear priority for health and care providers or commissioners in the Kent, Surrey and Sussex region, as evidenced through meaningful engagement by provider organisations and the public.
- Contribute to a public need and how best to direct limited resources toward priorities for Kent, Surrey and Sussex populations. They will produce evidence to support creative solutions for improved and efficient care that are needed now.
- Clearly contribute to one of the ARC KSS themes below and specifically to the objectives summarised in the attached table.
- Social care
- Starting Well: Early detection and intervention of mental health problems in children and adolescents
- Living Well with Dementia
- Primary and Community Health Services
- Public Health
- Digital Innovation
- Public and Community Involvement and Engagement and/or co-production is expected to be included in all projects; the ARC Co-production theme can support, if required.
- Projects should consider the value-for-money and potential cost-effectiveness where appropriate; the ARC’s Economics of Health and Social Care theme can support, if required.
- Projects should involve health and care organisations, focussing on strong evidence to support practice through collaboration across health and care settings and/or academia.
- A clear pathway to practical impact should be evident – how evidence will be generated for improving outcomes or care provision and how it will be implemented
- Projects can involve evaluation of innovation and care.
Projects from all care sectors will be considered, however, projects from under-researched areas are particularly encouraged including from primary care, social care, social work, public health, voluntary and community providers. Projects that contribute to COVID Recovery health and care priorities are particularly welcome.
Projects should cost no more than £100,000 in total, including 25% of the total requested funding as co-funding. Health and social care organisations may indicate their engagement through in kind or cash contributions.
The full call details will be released on Tuesday 1 March 2022 on the ARC KSS website and initial expressions of interest should be submitted by 14 April. All Expressions of Interest should include relevant letter(s) of support from the leaders of health and care providers and/or commissioning organisations clearly demonstrating formal links and integration with systems needs analyses and plans including how the project will contribute to COVID Recovery health and care priorities if applicable. Expressions of interest will be prioritised based on the above key criteria before being selected to submit a full application in early summer. Projects should start by October 2022 for no longer than 24 months. If your organisation is not currently an ARC KSS member organisation or you would like further information please email
