Our flagship projects
A Better Start - National Evaluation
The national evaluation of A Better Start (ABS) is being undertaken by the ABS national evaluation team led by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) with their partners: University of Sussex; Research in Practice; the National Children’s Bureau; and RSM.
A Better Start is the ten-year (2015-2025), £215 million programme set-up by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.
British Social Attitudes
NatCen's British Social Attitudes survey asks around 3,000 people what it's like to live in Britain and what they think about how Britain is run. Since 1983 we've been measuring and tracking changes in people's social, political and moral attitudes. The survey is a critical gauge of public opinion, and is used by the government, journalists, opinion formers and academics.
Find out moreScottish Social Attitudes
The Scottish Social Attitudes (SSA) survey uses a random sample of all those aged 16 and over who live across the whole of Scotland, so it provides a robust and reliable picture of public attitudes in Scotland.
Society Watch
NatCen's Society Watch series was first published in 2020 and provides a snapshot of what life is like for people in Britain today, focused around a particularly timely societal issue. This annual report presents the related research and evidence, from cradle to the grave, including a case study, examining a key theme from the evidence presented in more detail.
Find out moreStudy of Early Education and Development (SEED)
The Study of Early Education and Development (SEED) is a major longitudinal study following nearly 6,000 children from across England from age two. It started in 2013, and it is funded by the Department for Education (DfE).
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