Proposals are invited for physical activity interventions for older people. This could be for an intervention on a population with a specific condition, such as frailty, sarcopenia, stroke, or dementia. Proposals could also focus on a specific type of activity, particularly those activities that include a social component. These could include sports, with walking sports encouraged. Proposals could also focus on a particular population where health inequalities are known to occur. Proposals with a focus on diverse cultural groups and encouraged.

Proposals using qualitative or quantitative methods with older adults from diverse cultural backgrounds are particularly encouraged.

The community wellbeing garden is an allotment-style garden is in the grounds of the university’s Putteridge Bury campus. The garden, which was funded by the IHR and the BLMK Integrated Care Board, is run by staff, students, and other volunteers. The garden provides a valuable community service, initially for people with dementia and their caregivers, and also offers a unique opportunity to combine teaching and research. Teaching includes placements for Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy students, as well as lecture and practical sessions. Research focuses on the experiences of people with dementia and their caregivers, as well as the innovative pedagogical approach in terms of potential benefits for both staff and students. Although the garden is initially for people with dementia and their caregivers, the operation of the garden could be extended to other groups of participants. Proposals with a focus on the experiences of users of the garden, including people living with dementia, caregivers, staff, students, and volunteers, are encouraged.

Proposals using qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods are encouraged.

Secondary data analysis methods can also be used for an MSc by Research. Potential datasets related to ageing include:

• The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)
• The UK Biobank
• The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)
• The Health and Retirement Study (USA)
• Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI)
• Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE) – China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russian Federation and South Africa

In addition to these datasets, any dataset from the UK Data Service could be used, subject to approval to access the data.

The IHR is developing a research project in which adapted sports will be evaluated as an addition to more traditional stroke rehabilitation. Proposals linked to this project are encouraged, including both qualitative and quantitative research focusing on different sports. These proposals could include walking football, golf, or any other suitable sport. In addition, qualitative research that focuses on lived experiences of stroke survivors is welcomed.