We have changed both our working name and our legal name to the Vivensa Foundation to better reflect our work as a funder and impact-intentional investor.
This is not just a change of name but a renewed commitment to our mission: to fund the remarkable science and the radical social change needed for us all to age well.
Over the years, our focus and approach have evolved significantly. Many of the people we work with have told us that the name The Dunhill Medical Trust no longer reflects the nature of what we do, how we do it, or the community of researchers and social innovators we work with.
From the 29th April 2025, alongside the launch of our Strategic Framework and funding priorities for 2025–2030, The Dunhill Medical Trust’s working name will become the Vivensa Foundation.
The name Vivensa is inspired by the Latin word vīvēns, meaning to live, be alive, or reside in. This name reflects our focus on supporting those who help people age well – in whatever way the older adults they serve or work with – choose to define it.
The Vivensa Foundation as an innovative funder and impact-intentional investor
We are the only UK charitable funder focused entirely on supporting the research and social innovation needed for ageing well. Our strategic priorities tackle under-addressed or under-funded areas in which our funding and support can make a meaningful difference.
Our mission is to provide consistent support to — and grow a movement of — connected people with the energy, passion and great ideas to push the boundaries and make their contribution to the positive systemic change that’s needed right now to enable us all to age well in the future.
Susan Kay, Chief Executive
We launched our new strategic framework, which contains our priorities for the next five years, at our Symposium on 29 April. (You can also read more about the work that led us to setting these priorities here).
Over the next five years we’re looking to support:
- Research on the underlying biological mechanisms of ageing-related conditions and disease, in particular, addressing inequalities in the rate of biological ageing and the links and interactions with the social determinants of health.
- Research that addresses the causes, management and treatment of under-addressed and under-funded conditions prevalent in older age groups. In particular, we have identified:
- Age-related vision
- Age-related hearing loss
- Infection
- Respiratory disease
- Musculoskeletal conditions
- Scaling and spreading person-centred interventions that have the potential to prevent, delay or reduce future health and social care requirements, particularly through the promotion of innovative VCSE-researcher-public sector partnerships.
- Planning for, designing and developing suitable homes and communities, particularly those that address the needs of under-served communities, for our ageing population. This topic will be reflected in our Flagship programme for the plan period and we will be partnering with the Housing Learning and Improvement Network to deliver it.
We understand it can be challenging for community organisations to engage closely with researchers working in this field. That’s why we’ll be offering co-funding and networking opportunities to bring people together and unlock the potential of community-facing organisations to participate in research, gathering the evidence to drive change.
To explore the range of ageing-related research and social innovation we fund, take a look at our award-holder stories and watch our video…
The Vivensa Foundation as a learning organisation
We strive to be a transparent, learning organisation. In line with this, we’re sharing our history — alongside the origin and evolution of our endowment, its stewardship and governance — to acknowledge the investments we’ve made in the past and to stay accountable for what we invest in now and in the future.
We’re in the process of implementing our responsible and impact-conscious investment strategy. Chief Executive, Susan Kay, shares her thoughts on our journey to become a responsible investor and the decision to rename as the Vivensa Foundation.
With our new name, the Vivensa Foundation, and a refreshed 2025-2030 strategic framework, we are stepping into the future with purpose. We are committed to learning from our past while pushing forward — ensuring that every decision we make best serves our mission and the communities we support.
Susan Kay, Chief Executive
Join us in our next chapter
As a funding body we do things differently. Vivensa Foundation funding and support fills a much needed space thanks to our sole focus on ageing — rather than a specific disease. Our emphasis on building connections between community facing organisations that work with older people and research bodies means we can embrace bold new ideas to drive meaningful, lasting change.
As we begin our next chapter as the Vivensa Foundation, we’re very much open for business. See our open funding calls and sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear about opportunities coming soon. You can also become a Vivensa Foundation Academy member to connect and partner with others in the ageing-related research and community space.
Explore our website to learn more about how we’re working towards making long-lasting impact and ensuring our investments contribute to our mission to support ageing well.
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