Dr Maria Cheshire-Allen

Maria has led several research grants including the Research Wales Innovation Fund that explored the role of third-sector organisations in supporting carers of people living with dementia, the Global Wales Mobility Fund exchange visit programme, an evaluation of the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales’ programme for dementia-friendly communities in Wales, and an evidence review for Welsh Government on employment opportunities for older workers in Wales.  She has also worked as a named researcher on a large ESRC-funded social care programme Sustainable Care - Connecting People and Systems.  

Her research has been published in international academic books and journals, including International Journal on Care and Caring, and Social Policy Review.  She has also produced a number of podcasts, blog posts and briefings on her research findings. 

October 2023 – Sept 2026.  Social Care Fellowship Award.  Health and Care Research Wales.  PI.  £281,500

April – August 2023.  Research Network Grant The Care Research Interest Group.  Wales Innovation Fund. PI.  £5,000

Jan – April 2023.  Research Workshop Grant.  The Learned Society for Wales.  PI.  £1,000

Aug 22 – March 23.  ‘What is the role of third sector in driving innovation in dementia care? – A Pilot Study with Dementia Friendly Swansea’. Research Wales Innovation Fund. PI.  £16,423

Oct 21 - Oct 23. ‘The experiences of Covid-19 for older people and their carers in Wales.  The COSMO Study.  Health Care Research Wales Co-app. WP3 lead.  £249,786

Feb 2021 May 2021.  ‘Gender, older age care and justice’. Global Wales Mobility award HEFCW Global Wales Mobility Fund. PI. Knowledge exchange visit to the Dept of Philosophy, anthropology and social care at the University of Tarragona. £2000

2019 - Bursary award ROSEnet - 2 day research writing skills workshop Brussels.

2018 - Bursary award ROSEnet - 3 day ECR policy workshop, Ljubljana, Slovenia. 

2018 – PhD studentship.  £120,000.  ‘Wellbeing of Family Carers’.  Wales School of Social Care Research.  

2017 - PI. £8,600.  Older People’s Commissioner for Wales.  An evaluation of the Older People’s Commissioner’s Joseph Rowntree Foundation funded programme on dementia supportive communities in Wales. 

2016 - PI. £5,000.  Welsh Government. Rapid evidence review ‘Employment opportunities for older workers in Wales’. 

Maria works closely with national and local voluntary community and third sector organisations in Wales and currently chairs the Care Research Interest Group a collaboration of academics, practitioners, policy makers and unpaid carers who are interested in research relating to unpaid care.  She has connected with international research leaders on unpaid care and ageing, and has been awarded several knowledge exchange grants and as an Early Career Researcher Maria was involved in the Reducing Older Age Social Exclusion (ROSEnet) European COST Action and has contributed to published work alongside researchers in the University of Tarragona, Spain and Paris-Sorbonne University.