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About Nesta

Nesta is a research and innovation foundation. We apply our deep expertise in applied methods to design, test and scale solutions to some of the biggest challenges of our time, working across the innovation lifecycle.

More about us

Improving financial support for families

Improving financial support for families

About this area of focus

We are designing, testing and scaling ways to improve financial support for families. It is clear from a wealth of evidence that growing up in poverty is harmful for child development. By reducing the financial pressures parents face, we believe we can reduce parental stress and improve material resources for parenting, leading to a better home learning environment for children from low-income backgrounds that has a positive long-term impact well into adulthood.

All areas of focus within A fairer start

Projects and case studies

Updates and case studies from our portfolio of projects and practical programmes

Exploring ways to maximise family income

Toolkits, research and explainers

Helpful guides and original analysis you can apply to your own work

Why do the early years matter so much for later life?

Commentary and features

Expert opinion and thought-provoking editorial

Inequality and early child development in Scotland - three insights from the data

A powerful ecosystem for innovation

We extend our impact through two specialised units that help people and organisations to solve complex problems and achieve their goals.

BIT

BIT helps clients from government, nonprofits and the private sector to improve people’s lives through our empirical problem solving and deep understanding of human behaviour.

Challenge Works

Challenge Works designs and runs challenge prizes to spark innovation in science, technology and society.