CfI: Boosting fathers' engagement to improve child outcomes

UKRI is inviting applications for collaborative research that tests approaches to boosting fathers' engagement in services and strengthening evidence about what improves child outcomes.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) lists this opportunity for Research teams & consortia, Social Sciences, Policy & Governance, United Kingdom. Applicants should use the official call page to confirm final requirements before submitting.

Project leads must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding.

Applications should bring together relevant research expertise and partners able to test, implement, or use evidence on fathers' engagement and child outcomes.

Research, intervention, evaluation, and partnership work focused on fathers' engagement with services and support systems.

Projects should generate useful evidence for policy, practice, and service delivery, including work relevant to reducing inequalities in child outcomes.

Applicants can request between GBP 500,000 and GBP 970,000 for projects lasting up to 18 months. UKRI states eligible project costs are funded at 100% full economic cost.

Application deadline: Jul 22, 2026.

Confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, and submission route on the official call page.

Plan internal approvals, partner confirmations, budgets, letters, and portal submission before the final deadline.

Use the official UKRI Funding Finder page and submit through the UKRI Funding Service by 22 July 2026 at 4:00 pm UK time.

Before submitting, check required documents, eligible costs, attachments, page limits, institutional approvals, and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration, or nomination stage.