The Vivensa Academy is a growing membership (500+) of researchers, clinicians and community organisations. All are dedicated to improving later life, whether that’s through ageing-related research or delivering evidence-led services, products and interventions. Read on to discover why you should apply to join Vivensa Academy, and the fantastic members-only exclusives you can access from day one.
1. Funding opportunities
We offer a number of funding opportunities that are only open to Academy members. The Ignition Fund invites UK members of the Vivensa Academy to apply for up to £5k for a clearly defined activity/activities which are linked to our key priorities for research. Applications are open year-round and can be submitted at any time, however, the next deadline is at 5pm on 19 September.
Academy members also have until 3 November to apply to the UKAgeNet Discipline Hopping Awards 2025 which grants bursaries of up to £5,000 for PhD and £10,000 for postdoctoral researchers.
Plus, the newly opened Public, Patient and Community Involvement and Engagement Awards are open year-round. Applications can be submitted at any time, however, the next deadline is on 30 September.
Read about all three funding opportunities here.
2. Learning and growth
We run regular, free events for Academy members to learn and network. For example, we have two online events scheduled in September under our current theme of Community Engagement. On 2 September, Chris Manion will share the British Science Association’s Ideas Fund Impact Framework which supports equitable and inclusive community-led collaborations with researchers. On 15 September Professor Eric Jensen will lead an interactive workshop on how to apply ethical principles to engagement and impact.
We have two more events planned under our next theme of Creating Connections. On 16 October Professor Margaret (Mags) Watson will lead a masterclass on how to build a supportive network. And on 13 November she will run a masterclass on how to mentor effectively in academia. You can find out more about our events and book your place here.
In addition, we have funded five places for Academy members on Zinc’s upcoming Inflection Fellowship Programme. This part-time, 3-month journey (followed by an ongoing membership) is designed for mid-career professionals who are ready to make an impact on the health of people or the planet. You can read more about Inflection and find out how to apply here.
3. Connections and collaborations
We have a directory so Academy members can search for an expert, mentor or collaborator within the group. Part of our mission when we started the Academy was to build a network of like-minded individuals. In particular, we wanted to foster relationships between researchers and community organisations. So it’s great to see members using the directory to form meaningful connections.
Academy members can also access a jobs board – both to post and search for opportunities. These can be jobs, research projects or fellowship opportunities.
If these members-only exclusives sound too good to miss, apply now to join Vivensa Academy.