Ageing Well Challenge Prize

This competition has now closed.

• The Challenge
• Judging Criteria
• Examples
• Entry Criteria
• Timetable

Towards the later stages of life the quality of where we live takes on a greater significance, in particular social relationships and networks.  There is evidence that demonstrates the importance of supporting older people to live independently for as long as they can and that people too often lack the support networks and resources to make it possible. We know from research evidence[1] that feeling connected and having supportive social relationships has a strong link to health and longevity.

Isolation is a major factor impacting on older people's well-being and life expectancy.  Isolation and loneliness are not necessarily effects of the ageing process, but life events associated with older age such as leaving work, health decline and bereavement do put people at greater risk. At the same time, factors such as a good local environment and good social networks can help protect older people.

Being able to stay mobile is crucial to older people's wellbeing, as loss of mobility means the loss of so many other things from their lives such as the ability to go shopping, meet friends and pursue hobbies and interests.

The pace of demographic change creates the need for radical new approaches to support older people to live well by mobilising community and civic resources more effectively. There are already some interesting innovations that seek to respond to this challenge, such as Care4Care and Good Gym, but the scale of the challenge demands more and there is good evidence that this is an area where social action has an important role to play. The involvement of older people in the design and development of ideas is also important in providing inclusive responses to older peoples' needs.

The Challenge

We are offering a prize for the innovation that can reduce the isolation and/or increase the mobility of vulnerable older people by providing new opportunities for communities to come together to give time, skills and resources.

People who are part of communities are best placed to understand the needs, motivations and opportunities within these communities.  We think this makes them brilliantly placed to come up with great ideas that could prove to be highly effective.

The Ageing Well Challenge Prize is not just about ideas, although good ideas will obviously help. It's about putting ideas into practice. 

Judging Criteria

The successful entry will be the one that best meets the criteria outlined below, based on impact and measures.  Additional information is provided in the FAQs.

1.   Innovation

We are looking for new approaches, or ideas combined or implemented in new ways.   

2.   Reducing Isolation and/or increasing mobility

The winner(s) will need to demonstrate significant measurable decrease in isolation and/or increase in mobility of vulnerable older people. In selecting up to 25 competitors and when selecting the Finalists we will be looking for potential to decrease isolation/increase mobility. Measureable achievements will need to be demonstrated by Finalists.

3.   Giving and engagement

The winner/s will need to demonstrate that they have created new opportunities for people to give time, skills and resources to reducing isolation/increasing mobility of vulnerable older people including older people who are new to giving.  In selecting up to 25 competitors and when selecting the Finalists we will be looking for potential to create new opportunities for giving.  Evidence will need to be demonstrated by Finalists.

4.   Other social impacts

Judges will also consider the wider social impact of the idea, on intergenerational relationships or employment opportunities for example. 

5.   Potential for sustainability

We are looking for ideas that can be sustained to continue to have significant positive impacts on older people, beyond the life of the Prize.   

6.   Potential for scale

We are looking for ideas that have the potential to grow, be replicated or transfer to another context.

Some examples of innovative projects

To give you some inspiration, we've collated some examples of projects which have been funded through our Innovation in Giving Fund and others that relate to older people. Click here to view them and find out more.

Entry criteria

The Prize is open to any organisation based in the UK provided that the benefits of your proposal should focus primarily or significantly on England.

We are open to ideas and proposals from all sources and sectors and all types of organisations. 

The Prize is not open to individuals, although groups and organisations do not have to be legally constituted to enter.  If an unincorporated association or group is selected, they will be supported to become constituted.

Please ensure that you have, or can quickly put in place, the capacity within your organisation/group to develop and pilot your idea.  

The Challenge is open to for-profit, private companies; however prize funding will only be awarded for projects that have an identifiable public benefit related to the aims of the Challenge and our charitable objects and where any private benefit to individuals, companies or shareholders is incidental and not excessive.

All entrants need to demonstrate a willingness to share their experiences and learning to help establish a body of knowledge that can bring about a sustained change in the culture of giving and exchange.  Nesta intends to carry out and publish research in the insights gained through Challenge Prize.

We cannot fund activity which is party-political in intention, use, or presentation nor to support or promote religious activity.  We will not normally fund the purchase of capital equipment. You may not enter the Challenge if you are currently being funded by Nesta's Innovation in Giving Fund.

Challenge Stages and Timetable

Stage 1: Open Call
14 September 2012 - Deadline for Entries

Stage 2: Up to 25 Entries selected
October 2012 - Shortlisted entries will be supported to develop a detailed plan.

Stage 3: Around five finalists selected to test their ideas
Finalists selected January 2013 - Finalists will receive funding of up to £10,000 and support to set up and test their projects over a period of six months.
Testing period April - September 2013.

Winner selected and £50,000 Prize Fund awarded
October 2013 - The Finalist/s that demonstrate the biggest reduction of isolation and/or increase the mobility of vulnerable older people by  mobilising significant community resources and stand out when assessed against the other judging criteria will win.



Selected organisations must be able to commit to the programme until October 2013, when the Prize will be awarded to the most successful innovation.   

By the end of October 2013 Nesta will produce a report outlining the learning gained as a result of the Challenge Prize. We aim to:

• Share insights about the value of, and principles for the giving of time, skills and resource at community level to reduce isolation and increase the mobility of older people
• Encourage the development of more impactful and cost effective approaches
• Share learning about the effectiveness of using challenge prizes to stimulate social innovation methods

Before you submit, please ensure that you have carefully read the FAQs and guidance in the entry form.

If you have any further questions or queries relating to the Challenge Prize which are not answered in the FAQs and Term and Conditions, please email givingchallenges@nesta.org.uk

[1] Holt-Lunstad et al, 2010

About Nesta

Nesta is the UK’s innovation foundation. We exist to help bring ideas to life. We do this by providing finance through programmes, investments and grants, and mobilising research, networks and skills. Nesta became an independent charity on 1 April 2012 (charity number 1144091).

About Office for Civil Society

The Office for Civil Society, part of the Cabinet Office, works across government departments to translate the Big Society agenda into practical policies, provides support to voluntary and community organisations and is responsible for delivering a number of key Big Society programmes.