Data has been a central focus of the Shaping Places for Wellbeing Programme since the programme began in early 2021, specifically data led decision-making which impacts on place.
Each project town has developed four data documents including
- Quantitative data profile
- Quantitative data infographic, highlighting key areas of inequality
- Community Link Lead report
- Visual summary of key insight from the report
The process
The process involved an initial quantitative data profile report from public data sources which was then used as a starting point to further explore inequalities in our Project Towns through qualitative data collection and community conversations. Two key parts of the process were:
1. Quantitative data collection and analysis
The process started when we partnered with Public Health Scotland, which provided analyst support from the Local Intelligence Support Team (LIST) to undertake the extraction and analysis of quantitative data to augment our understanding of inequality for all our Project Towns.
The Local Intelligence Support Team (LIST) created profiles for each Project Town to identify those people most impacted by inequalities and what they needed from their place, in order to support data-led decision making. We’ve detailed the full process we followed in the ‘How To’ guide and blog below:
- Blog: Embedding data-led decision-making
- Data-informed approach: how-to guide to capturing local quantitative data
The data profiles were then further analysed by the Project Leads, along with the Steering Groups of each Project Town and distilled into an infographic which highlights the key areas of inequality.
2. Community Link Lead insight
Our Community Link Leads, as part of their role (as explained in this blog), have created a report through the qualitative data they collect within each of their Project Towns. A visual summary of this report (What we’re hearing in our communities) has also been produced for each Project Town highlighting the key issues in line with the Place and Wellbeing Outcomes.
A ‘How-To’ Guide has also been created, which details our experience in capturing local qualitative data and narrative through engagement with local stakeholders and community organisations, and provides a practical guide to the processes used so others can replicate it:
Within our Project Town of Rutherglen, a data explanation profile for Burnhill and Bankhead North has been created to provide a snapshot of the population/demographic of the area including age, levels of deprivation and poverty, and derelict land within the area.
How we use the data
The quantitative data infographic and Community Link Lead report are used at our Place & Wellbeing Assessments and highlight to our stakeholders the key areas of inequality within each town, to inform decision making and identify how the plan, policy or proposal being explored will affect a place and the wellbeing of the people living there.
The report is insightful and powerful, and I think should be read (and acted upon) by anyone involved in delivering services to people in Alloa South and East in particular… I see a strong link between the quantitative data and the testimonies from lived experience that you have reflected in the report. I hope this report can be shared as widely as possible and is taken into account in key decision making.
Key learning
All of our learning highlights the importance of having both quantitative and qualitative data sources to build a picture of inequalities in our Project Towns. It has provided clear indications of the challenges brought about by inequality and provided a focus for investigating the demographics most impacted in each Project Town, helping to frame discussions and support decision making to address these challenges. This can be seen in our Place and Wellbeing Assessments, where our Community Link Leads share their knowledge of the qualitative data they collect to support discussions.
The feedback we’ve had from Steering Groups across our Project Towns have highlighted the positive impact the programme has brought – with the quantitative and qualitative data contributing hugely to this. It has given valuable insight to support wellbeing in our places and helped to broaden participants perspectives as they look ‘with fresh eyes’ at the impact their decisions have, resulting in more coherent joined up policies. The quotes from our Steering Group members below highlight this.
I think one of the key things for Ayr and what we have benefitted from is really the work of the LIST analyst and the profile that’s been produced is probably one of the best data sets that I’ve seen.
The benefits that I’m seeing the programme bringing is bringing people together that wouldn’t perhaps originally work together so closely, and it’s helped to breakdown those silos across the town and it’s really allowing us to implement the Place Principle a lot better, it’s much more effective.
Where can I find out more?
Head over to our Local Project Action webpage to read more about each of our Project Town data profiles in more detail or click on the individual Project Town links below:
If you are looking at place-based approaches, or if the Shaping Places for Wellbeing Programme sounds like something you would like to know more about, please contact Irene Beautyman, Place and Wellbeing Partnership Lead, below or follow us on X (Twitter) @place4wellbeing to keep up to date with all of our latest news
Irene Beautyman - Place and Wellbeing Partnership Lead
Phone: 07908 930763
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Shaping Places for Wellbeing Programme
The Shaping Places for Wellbeing Programme is a joint delivery partnership between the Improvement Service and Public Health Scotland. This forum is for those interested in our work supporting the role of place to reduce inequality and improve the wellbeing of people and planet.
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Place Network
For those interested in the importance of place as a working approach to delivering national outcomes around improved wellbeing and inclusive growth.