Supporting the pilot befriending trial in people with intellectual disability
Dr Afia Ali is a consultant psychiatrist at the NHS Walthamstow Learning Disability Service and a senior clinical lecturer with University College London.
The RDS London team supported Afia when she applied for a NIHR Public Health Research Programme.
Project summary
The grant was for a feasibility study to identify whether befriending, compared to people receiving usual care, can help reduce symptoms
of depression in people with an intellectual disability.
Befriending offers supportive and reliable relationships to people who would otherwise be socially isolated. It has been around for some time and has the potential to make a difference in both the patient and volunteers life reducing the burden on other health and social care services. There are projects around the UK which focus on offering support and services to children and young people, families, people with mental health, older people, among others.
“I’ve met people whose lives have been transformed due to this service; but there haven’t been any randomised controlled trials on befriending in people with intellectual disability.”
The pilot befriending trial is underway and Afia hopes that it will lead to a larger trial.
My RDS experience
Afia approached RDS London for advice on how to shape her funding application and avoid common pitfalls.
The team was approachable, knowledgeable and willing to help. I received helpful suggestions about the study rationale and research plan.
Afia recommends that you contact us well in advance of your grant application deadline, and make use of our drop-in sessions where you can meet with advisers to discuss your research idea.
