The Nuffield Foundation has announced £1.47 million in new funding to support four pioneering research projects tackling some of the UK’s most pressing challenges around racial diversity, inequality and community renewal.
The funding, delivered through the Foundation’s new Racial Diversity UK (RDUK) fund, will generate evidence-led solutions to improve people’s lives across England, Scotland, and Wales. The projects mark the first phase of a wider programme designed to build a cohesive portfolio of impactful research that addresses policy, social experience and systemic inequalities.
PROJECTS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF RACIAL JUSTICE
The inaugural RDUK grants will support:
- Decline to Renewal: Race, Deindustrialisation and Working Lives – Led by Professor Keon West (Runnymede Trust), this study explores the impact of industrial decline on communities of colour, highlighting how regeneration policies can better serve racially diverse populations.
- Voices for Equity: Moving from Evidence to Action – Directed by Sunder Katwala (British Future), this project will conduct extensive national consultation to identify shared priorities for racial justice and shape a new public agenda.
- Racial Equality Since Devolution: Divergences, Outcomes and Frontiers – Led by Professor Nasar Meer (University of Glasgow), this comparative study will assess how different devolved nations have approached race equality, revealing policy gaps and opportunities across England, Scotland, and Wales.
- Better Mixing: Supporting Scotland’s Diverse Future – Headed by Dr Sarah Kyambi (Migration Policy Scotland), this project examines the impact of rapidly increasing racial diversity in Scotland, co-developing practical interventions to strengthen community relations in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Fife.
TARGETED & EQUITABLE RESPONSES TO RACIAL DIVERSITY
Commenting on the funding, Professor Keon West of the Runnymede Trust said: “There is a growing recognition that the ‘left-behind’ narrative does not fully reflect the experiences of all communities affected by industrial decline. This research will highlight how these changes have played out across different groups, including UK-born and migrant ethnic minorities, helping to inform targeted and equitable responses.”
There is an opportunity to “have a more grounded public conversation on race that can shift the policy, political and media debate ahead of the next general election,” added Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future. “This funding will mean that evidence, rather than anecdote and supposition, is brought to bear on that debate.”
Professor Nasar Meer emphasised the UK-wide significance of the work. “By taking the first truly UK-wide look at how devolution has shaped – and been shaped by – our response to racial inequality, this project shines a light on both the gaps and the possibilities in current policy.”
TACKLING RACIAL INEQUALITIES
Rapidly changing diversity in Scotland means seeking new ways forward, according to Dr Sarah Kyambi, Director of Migration Policy Scotland. “Funding for the Better Mixing project will develop new understanding of how policy and practical interventions can support positive community relations and ensure equitable access to shared spaces and services.”
“RDUK will help find solutions to end racial injustice by generating better evidence of the actions needed to achieve this,” explained Liz Gilfillan, Head of the RDUK programme at the Nuffield Foundation. “While we have good evidence of racial inequalities, there is not much evidence of what works to end racial disparities. We also want to enable examination of the wider benefits and opportunities that racial diversity brings.”
The RDUK initiative reflects the Nuffield Foundation’s broader strategy to foster a fairer, more inclusive society, aligning with its wider Research, Development and Analysis fund. Both programmes will continue to invest in projects addressing racial inequalities, discrimination, and pathways toward racial justice.
Click here for more information about the funding.
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