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Generation New Era is a new UK-wide birth cohort study following the lives of 30,000 children born in 2026, and their families. The first sweep of data collection is taking place when the child is 9-10 months old, beginning in November 2026. The survey involves interviews with mothers and fathers, including those who do not live with their baby, even if they have little contact. It will capture information about their economic and social environments, and their health, wellbeing and development.
The second sweep will happen when they are three years old.
Generation New Era is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.
Click on a sweep below for full details, including information about upcoming consultations.
Year
Age
A nationally representative sample has been drawn from records of births. In England and Scotland, there will be boosts of children from different ethnic groups, including Indian, Black African, Black Caribbean, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Mixed/Multiple/Other ethnic groups. There will also be low income area boosts across all four nations.
To make sure the study is big enough to create policy evidence for each of the four UK countries, the study contains substantial boosts in the number of eligible families in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A quarter of babies born in Scotland, a third in Wales and around half of all babies born in Northern Ireland in 2026 will be invited to take part.
Alissa Goodman
Professor of Economics and Co-Director of Generation New Era
Lisa Calderwood
Professor of Survey Research, CLS Managing Director, Co-Director of Generation New Era and Director of GUIDE
Pasco Fearon
UCL Chair in Developmental Psychopathology and Co-Director of Generation New Era
Lucy Griffiths
Professor of Paediatric Epidemiology, Swansea University Medical School, and Generation New Era Study Country Lead for Wales
Orla McBride
Reader in the School of Psychology, Ulster University, and Generation New Era Study Country Lead for Northern Ireland
Rebecca Reynolds
Dean International, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Generation New Era Study Country Lead for Scotland
The study team also includes Adrienne Burgess and Rebecca Goldman from the Fatherhood institute, who are supporting engagement with fathers with Generation New Era.
Early Life Cohort Feasibility Study
Generation New Era builds on the success of a smaller foundation study, the Early Life Cohort Feasibility Study, announced in 2021 and launched in 2023. Follow-up with these families is not continuing.
