£3m SHAPE Challenge Fund now open for applications
The £3 million SHAPE Challenge Fund is now open for applications (opens new window), inviting local partnerships across the UK to turn evidence on housing and ageing into practical action.
Launched yesterday at a special Housing LIN HAPPI Hour, the Fund forms part of the five-year Suitable Housing for an Ageing Population Evidence Exchange (SHAPE), funded by the Vivensa Foundation and delivered by the Housing LIN.
The Challenge Fund is looking for ambitious, place-based partnerships that want to improve homes and communities and help people live well as they age. Successful applicants will become SHAPE sites, working with the wider programme to implement evidence-informed approaches, understand what helps change happen in practice and share learning across the UK.
Funding of up to £1 million per SHAPE site is available over a maximum of three years. Proposals can be of different scales and budgets, reflecting the nature of the local challenge and the change partners are seeking to achieve.
The emphasis is on practical implementation and lasting system change, rather than further research, funding an existing service or isolated pilot projects. Proposals should bring together relevant local partners across housing, health and social care, local government and communities, with older people and people with lived experience involved in co-producing and delivering the work.
Jeremy Porteus, Chief Executive of the Housing LIN, said:
“We already know a great deal about what makes a good home and community in later life. The challenge is turning that evidence into action.
“Through SHAPE, we want to work with ambitious local partnerships that are ready to make things happen – bringing housing, health and social care together with communities and older people themselves to create lasting change.”
Sarah Allport, Head of Communities and Governance at the Vivensa Foundation, said:
“We are excited about the next stage of our SHAPE Exchange partnership. We are particularly keen to see approaches that bring organisations and communities together and have the potential to create lasting change beyond the period of funding.”
Applications now open
The SHAPE Challenge Fund, administered by the Vivensa Foundation, is now open for applications. The deadline is 5pm on Friday 12 March 2027.
The Fund is primarily intended to support revenue activity. Limited capital costs may be eligible where they directly enable delivery of the proposed project or activity, and no other source of funding is available.
Find out more about the SHAPE Challenge Fund, read the full guidance and apply via the Vivensa Foundation website (opens new window) - On the funding page, scroll to “SHAPE Exchange – Suitable Housing for an Ageing Population Evidence Exchange: Challenge Fund” under Open calls and deadlines.
Missed the launch?
Yesterday’s special SHAPE HAPPI Hour introduced the ambition behind the programme and Challenge Fund, including what we are looking for from potential SHAPE sites, the eligibility criteria, application process, key dates and delivery arrangements.
If you were unable to join us live, you can now watch the webinar recording below