RCN Foundation offers £35,000 grant to investigate maternity and neonatal inequalities

The RCN Foundation is seeking an organisation to undertake a 12-month, midwifery or nurse-led primary research study exploring the barriers Black and Asian women face throughout maternity and neonatal care, with funding of up to £35,000 available.

The foundation has identified maternal and neonatal race inequality as a priority area for its work over the coming years. Its Listen, Understand, Act programme, which addresses race inequalities across maternal and neonatal health and wellbeing, aims to contribute to the evidence base through grant funding.

The study will explore the barriers Black and Asian women face throughout maternity and neonatal care in having their voices listened to and heard by the professionals caring for them and their babies.

Central to the research will be an exploration of what personalised care looks like in maternal health for Black and Asian women and how listening to and hearing them can help achieve this. Examples of effective practice will need to be drawn from across all four UK countries, while the study should also include an evidence-based approach to measuring the impact of interventions.

The foundation hosted an information and Q&A session on Listen, Understand, Act on 24 August, outlining several points for applicants. Statutory organisations can apply for the programme, but NHS trusts are required to link with a higher education institution that will lead the research.

Having lived experience and user voice is central to the success of the research project, but they do ask that these individuals have gone through the process and had time and space to reflect and participate in a safe and supported way. Therefore, they ask applicants not to approach current NHS patients in their study.

The work is to cover both maternal and neonatal pathways. Applications opened on 7 August and close at 5pm on 18 September.