LARIA Summer Webinar Series 2026: Book Now!
LARIA Summer Webinar Series: Registration now open
Tickets are free of charge for LARIA Members (Full Individual, Additional Corporate, Corporate and Full Corporate Members). For Non Members and LARIA Associate Members, sign up to membership today to gain access to the webinars. For more information on the different memberships and benefits available, see here: LARIA Membership benefits
Webinar 1
Friday 10 July 2026, 10:00 – 11:30 BST
Session 1: 10:00-10:45
Ageing in Place Spatial Risk Model: An evidence-based approach to tackling inequalities in ageing
The Ageing in Place Spatial Risk Model has been developed to support evidence-informed policy development, strategic planning, and place-based decision making to address social isolation and healthy ageing across Greater Manchester. Developed as part of the Ageing in Place Pathfinder in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University, the model provides a consistent analytical lens through which policymakers and neighbourhood-based teams can understand how spatial, social, and demographic factors enable or constrain residents aged 50 and over to age well in their communities.
By bringing together multiple indicators linked to deprivation, health, mobility, employment, ethnic diversity, social connection, and access to assets alongside the voice and lived experience of older residents, the model helps identify where risks to ageing well are concentrated and where they overlap. This enables more targeted and preventative responses to be co-produced with residents, supporting interventions that are tailored to local community needs and address inequalities in mid and later life. The model directly informed delivery across 10 neighbourhoods, supporting partners to engage socially isolated residents, identify priority areas for action, and co-design Ageing in Place Action Plans. The approach is now being scaled within the Greater Manchester wide approach to Live Well in Later Life.
Sandaru Weerasinghe, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Ageing Hub)
Session 2: 10:45-11:30
From Data to Action: Tackling Health Inequalities in Gamesley Through Community-Led Insight The Gamesley Community Needs Assessment (GCNA) provides a robust, mixed-methods investigation into one of the most deprived wards in Derbyshire. Using a neighbourhood approach and through detailed ward-level epidemiology, ACORN segmentation and qualitative engagement with 23 residents and professionals, the project uncovered inequalities masked at district level, including Gamesley having the highest standardised incidence ratio for colorectal cancer in England alongside lower screening uptake. The research illuminated the lived experience of local people, revealing interconnected themes: strong community ties, limited transport and opportunity, financial hardship, safety concerns, living with poor health and a history of “project-fatigue”.
The findings directly informed evidence-based decision-making across Derbyshire County Council and partners. Four actionable recommendations were agreed: a targeted communication plan, a Health Equity Audit of screening and behaviour change services, a deep dive into mental health, and ongoing community-led monitoring. Early outcomes include a well-attended community feedback event, reinvigoration of a residents’ association, establishment of a new Community Neighbourhood Group, and co-production of a mental health guide with local residents.
The GCNA demonstrates how rigorous local area research, grounded in authentic community participation, can shift practice, strengthen partnerships and drive improvements in health equity.
Caroline Mackie, Derbyshire County Council Public Health
Webinar 2
Tuesday 14 July 2026, 12:30 – 14:00 BST
Session 1: 12:30-13:05
Independent 3-month evaluation of the new Kent & Medway Multi-Agency Risk Assessment (MARAC) Hub Model
This entry presents the independent 3 month evaluation of the newly implemented Kent & Medway MARAC Hub model. The evaluation was commissioned to understand whether the redesigned multi agency framework had begun to improve risk management, information sharing and coordinated safeguarding for
high risk domestic abuse cases. The project addressed two core questions: what enabled successful implementation, and what barriers were limiting the effectiveness of the new model.
The research used multiple data sources including interviews, focus groups, surveys, meeting observations, referral audits and analysis of the new Case Management System (CMS). A total of 43 professionals participated in qualitative sessions, 92 professionals completed the survey, and several MARAC meetings were observed to examine practice in context. CMS analytics, referral data and case reviews provided insight into emerging operational patterns.
The evaluation generated a robust understanding of successes such as improved partnership working, strengthened information sharing, and early benefits of digital transformation. It also produced practical recommendations related to licensing, training, role clarity, referral quality, action planning, and meeting structure. Findings have already informed adjustments to MARAC processes, and the report will guide the upcoming 12 month review.
The work demonstrates how local research can support system learning, strengthen accountability and improve safeguarding outcomes.
Sarah Collins, Kent County Council
Session 2: 13:05-13:25
LG Inform App: Engaging Decision-makers Through Clear, Accessible Data Insights
The LG Inform App, developed by the Local Government Association, provides senior officers and councillors with clear, accessible and timely insight into council performance. Designed to complement the comprehensive LG Inform platform, the app presents a curated basket of 110 metrics across 11 topic areas,
enabling leaders to monitor performance quickly and meaningfully. It has been shaped by extensive engagement with councils and professional networks, ensuring the chosen metrics genuinely reflect sector priorities.
The app responds directly to a key communication challenge: decision-makers need rapid, unambiguous insight without navigating complexity. The app achieves this through streamlined visualisations, contextual notifications and intuitive comparisons across relevant groups—including statistical neighbours, region or geographic neighbours. For multi-tier areas, responsibilities are handled clearly, greyed out where not relevant, and with intuitive prompts.
With integrated alerts, simple sharing functionality and direct links into deeper LG Inform content, the app supports better-informed conversations, scrutiny and strategic decision-making. It has already generated high levels of interest due to its clarity, simplicity and alignment with sector needs.
Alex Rigge, Local Government Association – LG Inform Programme
Session 3: 13:25-14:00
The Intervention Index: Data-Driven Prioritisation of £1.58 Billion Transport Investment in Liverpool City Region
The University of Liverpool’s Geographic Data Service, in partnership with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA), developed the “Intervention Index”, which is a composite spatial indicator framework that directly informed the allocation of £1.581 billion in transport infrastructure funding, the largest settlement in the city region’s history.
The research integrated multiple open and administrative datasets to create a bespoke index measuring compound inequality across four domains: Transport Accessibility, Deprivation and Socioeconomic Status, Economic Development, and Housing Opportunities. The methodology was co-produced through extensive consultation with LCRCA officers, Merseytravel, and six Local Authority partners.
The resulting evidence base and interactive dashboard became the primary tool for strategic decision-making in the Transport for City Regions (TCR) programme bid. The index enabled objective identification of areas experiencing intersecting disadvantages and provided transparent criteria for evaluating competing transport proposals.
The Department for Transport praised the approach which, in December 2025, allowed LCRCA to be the first Combined Authority nationally to confirm how it would spend its funding. Liverpool City Region was subsequently ranked third among 400 European cities in the European Capital of Innovation awards, an achievement the Metro Mayor specifically attributed to this data-driven approach to policy development.
Alex Singleton, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) & Geographic Data Service, University of Liverpool
Webinar 3
Wednesday 15 July 2026, 10:00 – 10:45 BST
Session 1: 10:00-10:45
Survivor Voice Ambassadors: Embedding Lived Experience in Domestic Abuse Policy, Training and Public Communication
The Survivor Voice Ambassadors (SVA) programme amplifies the lived experiences of domestic abuse survivors to inform commissioning, strengthen training, improve public communication and enhance service design across Kent and Medway. The programme invites survivors to share their experiences safely, with trauma informed protocols embedded throughout all stages of involvement. Ten ambassadors representing a range of backgrounds, identities and experiences have contributed to a range of local and national outputs. Their voices shape the Domestic Abuse Partnership website, media campaigns, professional training, and strategic policy discussions. They have provided insights that informed the commissioning of cybercrime support and specialist mental health input. Ambassadors have co produced content for public awareness campaigns, contributed testimonies to radio and press coverage, and recorded material for online training. The programme demonstrates meaningful involvement of survivors in shaping communication, service improvement and public understanding. It advances inclusive and ethical research practice by positioning survivors as partners rather than subjects. This entry shows how local research and engagement can drive organisational change, strengthen public messages, improve practitioner confidence and directly enhance support pathways for victims. The programme meets LARIA criteria through high quality engagement and demonstrable impact on decisions, service development and communication strategies.
Sarah Collins, Kent County Council
