CompletedObservational

Longitudinal impacts of no recourse to public funds on health and wellbeing for children and families in England

This research wants to understand the health and well-being of families with children in England who cannot claim most UK government benefits, a situation known as 'No Recourse to Public Funds' (NRPF). It will follow these families over time to see what happens to their health. Specifically, it will look at how applying for support from local children's services under a law called Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 affects them, and what happens if this support is turned down. The study aims to gather important information to help improve how social work helps these families.

At a glance

Status

Completed

Sponsor

University of Birmingham

Enrolment target

439

Start

10 Nov 2025

Estimated completion

10 Feb 2026

The impact of support for children in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989

What is this study about?

This study is looking into a really important issue: how not being able to access public funds, like most benefits, affects the health and overall well-being of families with children in England. This situation is called 'No Recourse to Public Funds' (NRPF). For families facing this, life can be very difficult, making it hard to meet basic needs.

The researchers want to understand what happens to the health of these children and families over time. They are particularly interested in how things change when families ask their local council for help through 'children's services' under a law known as Section 17 of the Children Act 1989. This law is designed to help children in need.

The study will follow families to see what effect applying for this kind of support has on their health, and also what happens if their request for help is turned down. The information gathered will be used to help social workers and other professionals better understand and support families in similar situations across the UK.

Key takeaways

The study looks at health for families with 'No Recourse to Public Funds' (NRPF).
It examines how seeking local council children's services help (Section 17) affects families.
Participation involves short questionnaires every six months for 2.5 years.
Some participants may also be interviewed by researchers.
There are no expected additional risks, and you receive a £10 voucher per task.
The findings aim to improve support for families in similar situations.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, you need to be a parent or guardian in a family with children who depend on you. Your family must be living in England. You also need to be affected by 'No Recourse to Public Funds' (NRPF), meaning you cannot claim most benefits or government support.

Finally, you must have asked your local council for help for your children through 'children's services' under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989. The study is not open to families outside of England, those without dependent children, or those who are not affected by the NRPF rule.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you part of a family with dependent children?
Do you live in England?
Are you unable to claim most public funds or benefits (NRPF)?
Have you asked your local council for help for your children through 'Section 17' support?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you will be asked to fill out a short questionnaire every six months for a period of two and a half years (30 months in total). This means you'll complete six questionnaires altogether. A smaller group of participants will also be invited to have a chat with one of the researchers involved in the project. If you're in this smaller group, you might also be asked to share a copy of a report from your social worker, called an 'assessment'.

Potential risks and benefits

There are no expected additional risks to taking part in this study beyond the normal ups and downs of daily life. Your participation will help researchers learn valuable information about the health and well-being of families with no recourse to public funds, which could help improve support services in the future. As a thank you for your time, you will receive a £10 voucher each time you complete a questionnaire or take part in an interview. Remember, you can choose to stop participating at any time without giving a reason.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

University of Birmingham
Unverified
Birmingham, England

Common questions

What does 'No Recourse to Public Funds' (NRPF) mean?

NRPF means you are not able to get most basic money from the UK government, such as common benefits or housing support.

What is 'Section 17 of the Children Act 1989' support?

This is help provided by local council children's services for children who are considered 'in need' under a specific UK law.

How long will the study last if I take part?

The study will follow families for two and a half years (30 months), with questionnaires every six months.

Will I get paid for taking part?

You will receive a £10 voucher every time you complete a questionnaire or participate in an interview as a thank you.

Who is running this study?

The study is being run by researchers at the University of Birmingham in the UK and is funded by the NIHR Public Health Programme.

How to find out more

Andrew Jolly

a.jolly.1@bham.ac.uk +44 7580274638 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.