Laria, Author at LARIA - Local Area Research + Intelligence Association

LARIA Autumn Webinar Series 2026: Book Now!

Laria — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:00:03 +0000

Laria

LARIA Autumn 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 — Local Insight, Community Data & Neighbourhood-Level Understanding
Monday 5 October 2026, 13:00 – 14:30 BST

Session 1: 1.00pm-1.30pm
Turning Data into Action: Community Insight Profiles for Local Impact
This session showcases how Community Insight Profiles and an interactive dashboard are transforming the way we understand and respond to local needs. National strategies often set the direction, but they can miss the nuances that define individual communities. Our work bridges this gap by using localised research and data to create practical insights that shape priorities and deliver targeted interventions.

The Community Insight Profiles programme brings a deeper understanding of the factors influencing health and wellbeing in Oxfordshire’s most disadvantaged areas. The community voices in the profiles bring local data to life, along with mapping community assets, identifying challenges and opportunities, and setting out recommendations for action. These profiles are not just descriptive; they include tailored action plans designed to respond to the priorities identified by local people. Community Health Development Officers and grant schemes are helping to implement the recommendations and we are working with the University of Oxford to assess their community impact.

The interactive dashboard builds on this by offering a dynamic platform where users can visualise trends, compare neighbourhoods, and drill down into specific indicators—making complex data practical and usable.

In this session, we will share the journey of developing these tools, including the methodologies, stakeholder engagement, and lessons learned along the way. We will also present practical examples of how the Community Insight Profiles have influenced local action, from health improvement initiatives to community projects, as well as the scalable findings from the programme evaluation.

Participants will explore the dashboard, engage in discussions about innovative approaches to local data analysis, and consider how similar tools can be adapted to their own contexts. This session offers practical insights into using evidence as the foundation for meaningful, sustainable change.
Reece Remedios, Kate Austin & Fiona Ruck, Oxfordshire County Council

Session 2: 1.30pm-2.00pm
Understanding and modelling loneliness among older adults at the neighbourhood level in England
Loneliness and social isolation have been recognised as critical health concerns by the World Health Organisation (WHO). In 2023, the WHO launched a Commission to help tackle social (dis)connection and in June 2025 published its first report. The report outlines the impact chronic loneliness and social isolation can have on human health, including on older population groups, with conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, depression and anxiety regularly referred to as implications, plus increased stoke risk and potential for early death. Research also suggests that loneliness is one of several lifestyle factors associated with dementia onset.

This session will present a prototype composite index and dashboard which seek to quantify, model and map loneliness risk amongst older adults at the small-area (neighbourhood) level, incorporating all of England. The index, known as the Loneliness Risk Composite Index (LRCI), fuses a series of known determinants of loneliness and infers the level of risk per neighbourhood unit. The tool is designed to aid the targeting of resources and interventions designed to tackle loneliness.

More specifically, this session will discuss the difference between loneliness and social isolation, their associations with health among older populations, and the risk factors (including modifiable risk factors) which are deemed to increase the risk of loneliness. The prototype composite index / dashboard will also be presented and demonstrated.
Dr Luke Burns, University of Leeds

Session 3: 2.00pm-2.30pm
Evaluating place-based and person-centred interventions – Balancing number crunching with local peoples’ experiences
The Horden Together Partnership is a place-based and person-centred intervention designed to improve the lives of residents in Horden, a former coal mining village in County Durham. It is currently being evaluated by the PHIRST Elevate research team based at the University of Edinburgh (more info here). Estimated completion is April 2026.

The evaluation has drawn on various data sources, many of them quantitative in nature. However, we recognise that people are not numbers. How do you make sure that the “human element” of the intervention is not lost through the evaluation, whilst maintaining objectivity and rigour?

Learning will be based around a case study of the evaluation. This session will explore how bringing together data from different local sources can help us tell the story of an intervention while keeping people at the heart of it. The evaluation method used machine learning as the technique to create “personas” by combining quantitative data sets. This helped us identify patterns of multiple needs without focusing on a single individual—a crucial approach in a small community like Horden.

The evaluation has also placed importance on gathering local “data” from a “public involvement group” made up of 12 Horden residents. This group has helped guide the evaluation by providing context and insights, commenting on emerging findings and will support knowledge mobilisation.
Julie Englund & Sarah Janac, Durham County Council & University of Edinburgh

Webinar 2 — Analytical Innovation, Automation & Insight-Driven Service Delivery
Thursday 8 October 2026, 10:30 – 11:30 BST

Session 1: 10.30am – 11.00am
From Analytical Priorities to Organisational Value: Reflections on HDRC Newcastle’s Collaborative Data Projects
This session will provide an honest and practical overview of how HDRC Newcastle works with council directorates to identify, prioritise and develop analytical projects. Drawing on two collaborations with Housing and Communities, the session will explore the project journey from early scoping and engagement at strategic, managerial and operational levels through to analysis, prototype development and the translation of learning into service and organisational improvement.

The session will share our practical approaches to collaborative workshops, project prioritisation and the development of realistic data projects with a focus on health inequalities. It will highlight both successes and challenges, as well as the importance of recognising and building upon the value generated throughout the project lifecycle.

The case studies will illustrate how data from different systems can be brought together to develop a clearer understanding of local need. We will summarise the analytical methods and tools used, alongside the ethical, data quality and operational considerations encountered.

We will also reflect openly on the challenges that can prevent analytical projects from progressing as originally planned. A central theme will be the importance of recognising and capturing value throughout the project lifecycle. The session will consider how individual projects can contribute to longer-term culture change, build analytical capability and create the conditions for future work. We will also share practical ways in which project teams can “help their future selves” by improving documentation, data definitions, governance and reusable analytical processes as part of every collaboration.

We will also reflect openly on the factors that can prevent analytical projects from progressing as originally planned. The session will consider how projects can nevertheless generate wider organisational value, including improved data quality and standards, stronger relationships between analytical and service teams, increased analytical capability and more confident use of evidence in decision-making. We will also share practical ways in which analysts and researchers can “help their future selves” by improving documentation, data definitions, governance and reusable analytical processes through each collaboration.

Throughout the session, delegates will be invited to reflect on how they scope and prioritise analytical projects, maintain engagement across different organisational levels, overcome bottlenecks and demonstrate value beyond the delivery of a final product. The session will conclude with practical lessons for developing sustainable, insight-driven working across local government.
Ruth Boldon & Lee Burns, Newcastle City Council

Session 2: 11.00am – 11.30am
Improving school attendance in Newcastle: understanding the local challenge through mixed-methods research
This session will present findings and reflections from a mixed-methods research project undertaken by Newcastle City Councils Health Determinants Research Collaboration in collaboration with Children and Families directorate.

The research combined statistical analysis of attendance of pupils in Newcastle upon-Tyne to identify factors associated with attendance and inform the sampling design for qualitative analysis. Qualitative research captured perspectives from children and young people, parents, school staff, council attendance officers and wider partners from health, social care and voluntary and community organisations.

The session will focus on the research findings, how we are disseminating the research findings with various stakeholders including children and young people and reflections on conducting research projects within a local authority setting.

What the webinar will cover
During the proposed 30-minute session, the presenters will:
• introduce the scale and significance of school absence in Newcastle;
• explain how quantitative and qualitative evidence were brought together;
• share the principal statistical findings and lived-experience themes;
• highlight practical recommendations for schools, families, local authorities and wider partners.

The session will conclude by inviting delegates to consider how local authorities can combine administrative data with the voices of children, families and practitioners to develop more informed, proportionate and collaborative responses to persistent absence. Key areas for discussion will include early identification, data linkage, multi-agency working, the role of schools as community hubs and how local evidence can be translated into service improvement.
Dr Grace Gardner & Dr Ruth Boldon, Newcastle HDRC

Webinar 3 — Cross-Sector Collaboration, Health Equity & System-Wide Approaches
Wednesday 14 October 2026, 10:30 – 12:00 BST

Session 1: 10.30am – 11.00am
Using Data to build cross sector relationships and shared vision
Since 2022, Centre for Thriving Place (CTP) has worked with three district councils in the Mid-Essex region on a long-term approach to cross-sector collaboration around public health, housing and economy. Initiated by the desire to bring a data-led, evidence-based approach to collaboration during the establishment of the Integrated Care System, this work shows how drawing together and understanding datasets can be a starting point to build practical collaborations, and innovative programmes that tackle silos.

Beginning with a series of workshops with the Mid Essex Integrated Care Alliance, CTP used the Thriving Places dataset as a starting point for discussions about not just a more holistic picture of wellbeing in the region, but also about drivers of wellbeing intersect with each other. These discussions were augmented by qualitative interviews with people working across the system to understand where there was good join-up and where there were problematic gaps in relationships and communication between teams, departments and organisations.

This generated a bespoke indicator framework for the Alliance, containing data on policy areas that intersect in people’s lives (for example health and housing) but about which most organisations in the public health, NHS, local authority and VCS, do not tend to review data all together in one place – much less collaborate with different parts of the system.

This initial 6 month work, resulted in a follow-on 2 year learning partnership over two years through which the Thriving Places Dataset became integrated across the three district councils’ work including VCSE sector mental health funding, transport inequalities, and joining up retrofit, respiratory health and housing. further ongoing project to better integrate the work of the Public Health and Economic Growth teams at Essex County Council, and to feed into the development of new foundational strategies for the emerging Greater Essex Mayoral Combined Authority.
Adekemi Okmisakin & Rosie Maguire, Centre for Thriving Places and Adrian Coggins & Alexandra Card, Essex County Council

Session 2: 11.00am – 11.30am
Embedding health equity: Tools from the MATCH process
A key initiative of the Population Health Hub is the eMbedding heAlth equiTy in City & Hackney (MATCH) programme. The vision behind the Hub and MATCH is inherently bold: to transition from addressing health inequalities solely through targeted services to embedding health equity as a core function within all partner organisations across the system (applicable in different local contexts).

The MATCH approach is built on a robust evidence-informed process, ensuring solutions are targeted, relevant, and effective. The MATCH approach includes five main steps: bringing the right people together, collating data and insights, establishing conditions for change, prioritising key changes, and implementing, testing, and learning. It is adaptable, flexible and can be applied in tackling a wide range of health inequalities, and importantly can be applied with or without designated funding.

Using a participatory format, the session will share practical tips, insights and uses of the MATCH process to inspire and enable others to adopt it in their work to reduce health inequalities.

Participants will be taken through the five steps and supported to use the MATCH process to successfully tackle deep-rooted challenges, providing real-world examples of impact from the first two years of MATCH – from taking action on food poverty, poor cardiovascular outcomes, inequalities in maternity outcomes, mental health of people seeking asylum, and inequalities in healthy weight outcomes through partnership work.

Attendees will leave equipped with the inspiration and practical tools needed to adapt and implement this flexible framework, ensuring health equity is no longer an optional project but a core, built-in function of their day-to-day operations and service design.
Jessica Veltman and Missy Matz, Population Health Hub, City & Hackney Public Health Team

Session 3: 11.30am – 12.15pm
TBC
CACI’s webinar session will consist of three speakers; CACI, Snowflake and the London Borough of Barnet. CACI will focus on our perspective and experience of working with local authorities from a data and solutions perspective; Snowflake will talk through their technology solutions and partnerships with public sector organisations; while Barnet will provide a live case study demonstrating practical application and impact where they’ll discuss their approach to developing a vulnerability index.
CACI: Stewart Eldridge & Lorcan Wade
Snowflake: Simon Tobias
London Borough of Barnet: James Rapkin

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LARIA North West Event – Wednesday 9 September 2026 online

Laria — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:18:03 +0000

GMCA are hosting a LARIA NW event on Wednesday 9 September (online) 2pm-4pm. There will be presentations on the following and more:

“Improving the inclusiveness of data by building trust with local communities” Manchester City Council
“Analysis of Early Year Metrics” GMCA
“VisABLE: Developing and validating a prediction tool for likelihood of care home admissions in local authority social care” University of Manchester
“The role of Local Authority Research Practitioners (LARP) in councils” Wirral Council

If you would like to attend, then get in touch by emailing research@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk

The post LARIA North West Event – Wednesday 9 September 2026 online appeared first on LARIA - Local Area Research + Intelligence Association.

LARIA Summer Webinars 2026: Recordings and Presentations Now Available

Laria — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 11:08:15 +0000

Laria

LARIA Webinars

Recordings and presentations are now available in the members area, sign in to view.

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

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LARIA’s Research Impact Awards 2026 – Winners

Laria — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:00:30 +0000

LARIA’s Research Impact Awards 2026 Winners

The winners of the LARIA Research Impact Awards were announced on Wednesday 25 March during the LARIA One Day Conference ‘Local Evidence Matters: Understanding Need Through Research and Data’ held at the Local Government Association, London.

The LARIA Research Impact Awards are the only awards specifically designed to showcase the work of those researching local areas and recognise the impact of research at a local level and showcase the very best work of our members. We welcome entries from across the public and private sector that show the value of this work in helping public sector bodies to make better evidence based decisions.

We are delighted to announce the 2026 shortlist and winners below:

A: Best use of local area research – sponsored by LGA

To win this award the successful entrant will show how their research has led to a greater understanding of a local area or community or an issue that is locally important, and has led to evidence-based decision-making.

Winner

Kent County Council, for ‘Independent three-month evaluation of the new Kent & Medway Multi-Agency Risk Assessment (MARAC) Hub model’

Highly Commended

Derbyshire County Council, for ‘From data to action: tackling health inequalities in Gamesley through community-led insight’

Shortlisted

Essex County Council: Building caring communities: using resident insight, data and digital engagement to shape Essex’s Caring Communities Commission
Oxfordshire County Council: Using data to tackle inequalities in Oxfordshire: community insight profiles for local impact

B: Best use of data – sponsored by CACI

To win this award the successful entrant will show how they have successfully used data to aid understanding of a local area, community or issue that has led to evidence-based decision-making within at least one public sector body. Data for the purposes of this award is defined as the use of big data, open data, business intelligence and statistical analysis.

Winner

Greater Manchester Combined Authority, for ‘Ageing in Place Spatial Risk Model: An evidence-based approach to tackling inequalities in ageing’

Highly Commended

University of Liverpool, for ‘The Intervention Index: Data-Driven Prioritisation of £1.58 Billion Transport Investment in Liverpool City Region’
Warwickshire County Council, for ‘Business Intelligence Team – Community Safety’

Shortlisted

Oxfordshire County Council: Mapping Need, Pathways and geographic and social inequalities: A Multimethod Analysis of Children’s Social Care Demand and Decision Making in Oxfordshire

C: Best use of data or research in a district council

This award is targeted at district authorities, which often have fewer resources for research and data analysis than other types of council. To win this award the successful entrant will show how they have successfully used research or data to aid understanding of a local area, community or issue, and how that led to evidence-based decision-making.

Winner

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, for ‘Powering life‑changing support for residents through intelligent data insight’

Highly Commended

Colchester City Council, for ‘Putting children’s voices at the heart of the design; Colchester Castle play park redevelopment’

Shortlisted

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council: Building an evidence base to support reorganisation in Surrey
Wyre Council: A map-based interactive dashboard that successfully informed LGR proposals in Lancashire

D: Most engaging communication of local area research or analysis

To win this award the successful entrant will show how they have successfully communicated local area research or data analysis to aid understanding of a local area, community or issue. The audience for this communication could include senior decision-makers, staff, the media and the public.

Winner

Kent County Council, for ‘Survivor Voice Ambassadors: embedding lived experience in domestic abuse policy, training and public communication’

Highly Commended

Local Government Association for their ‘LG Inform App: engaging decision‑makers through clear, accessible data insights’

Shortlisted

Essex County Council: Childhood in Essex: Gen Z and Gen Alpha ‘spilling the tea’ on the everyday realities and the changing landscape of childhood in Essex
GeoPlace: Policy principles to support the effective use of address data

E: New researcher/analyst of the year

This award is given to a researcher or analyst with under five years of experience in a research field who has made an impact. This could be a person of any age, and could be based on a particular project they have led, an innovation they have pioneered or a particularly strong skill set.

Winner

Petronella Munhenzva, from Wirral Council

Highly Commended

Jessica Austin, from Norfolk County Council

Shortlisted

Matthew Davies, Wirral Council
Abi Paggett, Kent County Council

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LARIA Mini Newsletter

Laria — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 09:12:49 +0000

Laria

Keep up to date with LARIA! If you would like to receive a copy of the LARIA Mini Newsletter monthly to your inbox or would be interested in joining LARIA please take a look at the membership benefits available.

LARIA Mini Newsletter August 2026

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LARIA Webinars 2024: Recordings now available

Laria — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 09:03:31 +0000

Laria

LARIA Webinars: Recordings

AI: What is it? Why is it? Where is it?
The world is awash with references to AI, despite it not being a new practice. The recent advancements and easy accessibility of AI tools mean it’s the buzzword of the moment. But, for many of us there are still many foundational questions when it comes to AI – what is it? why is it? And where is it?

In this session CACI’s AI and Data Science experts Sue MacLure, Director of Data and AI Ethics, and Edward Sewell, Data Strategy Partner will share the journey we’ve been on at CACI as we adopted advanced AI techniques to enhance our data insights products, as well as the use of generative AI in the interpretation and application of those data insight products – bringing to life the what, why and where of AI at CACI.

They will also dive into the ethical and legislative challenges of adopting AI techniques to undertake data insight practices, and how we’ve addressed them – sharing our key learnings with you, so your data scientists can act with integrity, always considering the ethical side of AI in their day-to-day work.

Finally, we’ll bring this all to life with some real-life use cases of how organisations are adopting these AI driven tools to improve consumer and resident experiences.

We’re confident you’ll walk away with:

• Insights on how you can embrace the AI & Data Science opportunity for your organisation.
• A deeper understanding of the key ethical and legislative considerations that all organisations seeking to adopt AI should be aware of and considering.
• A clearer view of the variety and potential of ways in which data science and AI can drive tangible benefits to organisations across the Public and Commercial sectors both now and in the future.
Ed Sewell, Partner – Data Strategy & Sue MacLure, Director of Data, CACI

Developing skills for AI: how and why
This session will provide delegates with inspiration for how their councils can take practical steps to develop data science skills to take advantage of the opportunities that AI presents. Attendees will also hear from two councils who will give examples of AI projects that showcase the benefits of investing in these skills.

In this session, hear from Anna Gibson, Senior Data Analyst at Hackney Council, about her experience participating in a level 7 AI apprenticeship. Anna will explain how she has put the skills she developed to practical use in an exciting project that aimed to predict which council-managed properties and associated households were most at risk of damp and mould, to help prioritise proactive interventions for the most vulnerable of residents.

Simone Thomas, Senior Manager for Strategic Data Systems at Cheshire West and Chester Council will describe the Data Hive skills development programme the council has implemented to build data culture and skills across the organisation. Simone will also tell us how her Data Science and Engineering team is developing a predictive modelling project that focuses on SEND pupils to help support sufficiency planning and budget forecasting.

Finally, Kate Cooper will outline the support available from the LGA to help councils develop data skills and build capacity around AI, as well as the opportunities available to participate in networks to share learning and build relationships with other councils also working in this area.
Anna Gibson, Senior Data Analyst, Hackney Council, Simone Thomas, Senior Manager for Strategic Data Systems, Cheshire West and Chester Council
Chaired by Kate Cooper, Programme Manager – Data and Transparency programme, Local Government Association

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Tanni Grey-Thompson: Councils must protect staff with data skills

Laria — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 16:17:43 +0000

Laria

Financial pressures will make it tempting to cut research and analysis teams but covid revealed the importance of having people with these skills, writes the president of the Local Government Association.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson spoke about the value of using data to identify and tackle inequalities in local areas, to support different groups facing difficulties, at the LARIA one-day event that took place on Thursday 16 November. Read more here.

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LGA – Working to improve a better understanding and use of data in local government

Laria — Tue, 10 May 2022 11:16:38 +0000

How well does your council use data for decision-making?

The LGA is looking for councils to partner with us to trial the use of a data maturity self-assessment tool. We would welcome councils at any stage of maturity from the data unaware to data masters. The results will enable you to assess where you are on your data journey and plan the next steps of your evolution. You will also be able to compare yourself across different functional areas and against other councils. The findings will encourage conversation on the data needs of councils and how we can work collectively to raise standards and to improve cultural and work practices.

More details and how to register your council’s interest is available online here.

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Blog by Professor Martin Reeves, LARIA Honorary President

Laria — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 09:44:23 +0000

Laria

Published: 10 September 2026

It’s our Time!

The pandemic has arguably forced a decade of changing work practices and patterns into a single year. I don’t need to rehearse this here, as how people are working remotely, hybrid (whatever that really means) and using digital tools that they never realised existed, is at the forefront of most of our professional and personal conversations.

So, this got me thinking, with my LARIA Honorary President hat on, as to what all of this has meant and will mean in the near future for our brilliant research, intelligence and insight communities across public services.

As I have written about previously to LARIA members, in many ways, the challenging period of the pandemic has provided our professional colleagues with the deserved opportunity to be metaphorically up on stage with the rest of the band rather than being destined forever backstage crew or in the wings. The power and importance of data and evidenced-based policy formulation and decision-making has become understood, particularly at a local level, if not always at a national level. The rapid retrieval of data, its analysis and interpretation and then presentation in clear, digital, infographic formats will be one of the enduring, positive memories of the past 18 months.

The industry, skill and application of the research community have all been amplified during the most acutely challenging of times and the profession has not, in the main, been found wanting or lacking. LARIA should take credit for providing the learning and support networks and platforms for this working at a local level, which has led to rapid evaluation, strong impact and in my view, a more robust, flexible and resilient profession.

The systems for collecting, storing, analysing and presenting data and research are of course more sophisticated than ever. Working remotely and independent of location has created very few, if any major challenges, with respect to access to legacy systems and databases. Just reflect a moment on how the skill to share our screens and present, often with detailed information and insight, has radically improved as we have been navigating through this virtual world.

So, there are many reasons to be cheerful for the heightened profile of what we do and what we have advocated tirelessly for over many years. BUT, this is not all plain sailing. I have always said, including at a couple of keynote presentations I have given at the LARIA conferences over the years, that what we do must be thought of as a contact sport and not a virtual reality. I know it’s a phrase I use too often, it is true ‘tho and what concerns me is dislocation from the places that we want to help shape and the communities we are determined to enhance, through their eyes and not ours.

So whilst our roles can be remote and often very powerfully so, there is no substitute for immersion in our places, connection and re-connection with all our professional and political colleagues who also care deeply about our place, but above all the people that we serve. This simply cannot be done effectively and productively through anything else other than 3D. Screens and the impenetrability of the virtual world take away so much of that humanity and inhibits the creative and visceral connection which makes the real, lasting difference.

The key in my view therefore is to hold on to the positive outcomes arising from such a dreadfully awful pandemic and for us all to commit to re-connection. By doing this, we have more than a fighting chance to promote the value of evidence and insight being locked into our policy and practice on the ground as we re-imagine what more prosperous, fairer, more equal and greener places should look like in the future.

Professor Martin Reeves

Honorary President, LARIA

Chief Executive, Coventry City Council

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The post Blog by Professor Martin Reeves, LARIA Honorary President appeared first on LARIA - Local Area Research + Intelligence Association.

LARIA Chair’s Report 2021

Laria — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 09:32:34 +0000

Laria

Published: 10 September 2026

LARIA Annual General Meeting 2021

Chair's Report, 10 June 2021

A lot has changed recently in all our lives, and things may never be how they were. For LARIA, the impact of the pandemic has meant that we have paid a heavy, but unavoidable, financial price for the changes we have had to make. However, we are also delivering a successful programme of online events, and our membership numbers continue to increase.

As LARIA Council, the group of volunteers that steers LARIA, we had already discussed and agreed the need to make changes to our operating model, which had remained largely unchanged for many years. Covid-19 brought those plans forward, but also stopped us delivering on some of our aspirations for the moment.

In 2020, we had to cancel our annual conference and the venue booking. The annual conference, the venue booking and the amount of the work that goes into organising the conference and management, means they carry a significant financial liability and risk for LARIA. The events, when they run, also deliver a small surplus, which we invest back into LARIA.

But due to coronavirus, we had to cancel our 2020 annual conference. This was a significant cost to LARIA, without any income to offset it. But LARIA Council felt it was the right decision to take to protect LARIA from further financial penalty.

Instead, we ran a successful webinar series last autumn and we are just completing our spring webinar series. I would like to that all the speakers who gave up their time to share the great work they have done with their fellow LARIA members. These events have been free to attend for all LARIA full individual members and LARIA corporate members, as a benefit of their membership fee. This will continue. My thanks to Gerallt and the LARIA events group for all the work that has gone into making these events happen.

We hope to continue the webinar series with further events, and as ever we value your feedback and input on what you would like to see and hear about. When the time is right, we will again hold face-to-face events, as we know the networking value that they hold. Once we reintroduce our physical events, we plan to continue with our online offer to give you more opportunities to share your work, and to hear and learn from colleagues.

As we haven't held physical events, our main source of income is membership fees. This income stream goes towards the costs of arranging and hosting our online events, managing our membership, and managing and communicating with our members through emails and our website. We currently have over 1,300 members in LARIA, and I really appreciate the financial support of all LARIA members, particularly through the past 12 months.

In last year's chair's report, I talked about the fine balance of LARIA's finances between survival and not. 2020 has shown us that is very real. Due to previous financial prudence, we have been able to weather the storm by using our reserves, but our financial challenge remains, and offsetting income with reserves is not sustainable.

LARIA operations

This year, John Woolham steps down from LARIA Council. John has been a great support to LARIA Council and the events group. Previously, he had been instrumental in the running of the Social Services Research Group (SSRG) and worked with LARIA to bring the SSRG and LARIA together. My thanks to John, and, on behalf of LARIA, I wish him all the very best for the future.

Our trustees' meetings, held in the autumn each year, continue to hold LARIA Council to account, and they support LARIA's strategic direction. I thank the trustees for their continued backing and thank Andy for his input into those meetings.

We are holding the LARIA Research Impact Awards this year, after a pause last year. My thanks to Juliet for your work in making the awards happen and to the award judges for their input and expertise.

Due to the pandemic and its impact on our workloads in our day jobs, we have made a slight amendment to the election cycle to LARIA Council. The chair, vice-chair and vice-chair designate will all be elected for one year this year and again in 2022, until we return to the usual two-year cycle after that.

My thanks to LARIA Council for the support it has given LARIA and the specific tasks that you have delivered on the council's behalf. Your time and effort are very much appreciated, as always. And, I would also like to acknowledge the help and contribution from our partner CACI Ltd, and our media partner the Local Government Chronicle (LGC).

Priority for the next 12 months

Since the last AGM, LARIA Council has increased its focus on our events offer and communicating that through our membership and more widely through media channels, such as the LGC. LARIA Council will continue to focus on the events offer in the next 12 months, and this will hopefully include planning on the reintroduction of our face-to-face annual conference, whilst maintaining our online events. The other main priority is to balance our core costs against incomes, and to do that we need a second partner to support us and work with us.

Mike Walker
LARIA Chair
May 2021

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