Child development

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

TWF is interested in the psychological and behavioural development of our children, and particularly in certain neuro developmental conditions and the factors that influence them.  To that end we fund:

We also fund some non-research projects, including

and to a lesser extent

RESEARCH FUNDING TOPICS

We are most interested in the following neurodevelopmental topics:

We run an annual call for research applications to the Child Development Fund. For the first time, with funding in 2012 we will have single deadlines for two of our key topics. All Epilepsy-related concept pieces need to be submitted prior to 4th November, 2011. All Autism-related concept pieces need to be submitted prior to 2nd March, 2012. All concept pieces for research projects into Dyslexia, Developmental Co-ordination Disorder, ADHD, and Trauma, need to be submitted between 4th November, 2011 and 1st May, 2012.

As these conditions often occur together, we are particularly interested in projects which cross diagnostic boundaries, such as those investigating deficits in executive functioning or speech and language. We are also interested in factors which may alleviate these conditions, and particularly those which are under families’ control, such as diet, sleep, and parenting behaviours.

We fund both pure and applied research topics, prioritising those which are closest to direct patient benefit. Our pure research projects typically investigate the causal factors, core deficits and co-morbidities of particular disorders. Our applied research projects typically investigate factors relating to interventions for these disorders. We prioritise those which are cost-effective, would be easy to rollout, and directly involve parents and children (such as involving diet/sleep etc).

We are a partner-based research funder, and see research funding as a collaborative process.  We ask you as a research partner to keep us up to date with your progress and aware of findings as they emerge.  Sometimes we are able to assist researchers in matters beyond the financial.  On occasion, we may expect you to come to meetings and/or conferences with us, and expect you to make an effort to do so.

For examples of applied research projects the Child Development Fund has previously supported, please click here. For these and all research projects click here to go to our Research Applications pages. 
We encourage our research partners to affiliate with peer organizations.  For example, we advise Wales-based research projects to be adopted by CRC Cymru and one of the CRC Cymru research networks, and to consider SEWTU.

NON-RESEARCH FUNDING

DISSEMINATION SUPPORT

We are occasionally able to give some support for dissemination of knowledge and best practice to children and their carers, and to related professionals.  This dissemination can be either by researchers themselves or by support groups, and could take the form of:

However, we are unlikely to wish to be the sole funder of any such support, so it will be important that you demonstrate what your own fundraising efforts have been and how we can augment your success. We will also consider how cost-effective your plans are.
For examples of dissemination projects the Child Development Fund has previously supported, please click here. To apply for a grant for a project relating to dissemination of knowledge, click here to go to our Main Applications page.

INTERVENTION SUPPORT

We are able to offer some support to projects in Wales which help families who are affected by one of the above conditions. We welcome such applications at any point through the year.
We generally do not fund actual support for individual children with these conditions (e.g. homes, equipment or therapists for individuals etc) – sorry.  However, we have limited capacity to fund a small number of intervention projects subject to the following criteria:

For examples of intervention projects the Child Development Fund has previously supported, please click here. To apply for a grant for a project relating to Intervention Support, click here to go to our Main Applications page.