State of the Neighbourhoods (SON): Local Data System for Neighbourhood Renewal

INTRODUCTION:

The State of the Neighbourhoods (SON) is a database of socio-economic indicators designed to support the management and delivery of Neighbourhood Renewal (NR) across the city of Bristol.

Containing indicators relating to NR delivery themes (Crime, Education, Health, Jobs, Housing and Road safety) the database enables comparison between NR and Non-NR areas, enabling the identification of the inequality gap between the city's most and least deprived areas. The data in SON is regularly updated (annually or sooner), allowing important observations of change over time with indicators broken down by gender and ethnicity where possible.

The data is made available online in a simple Microsoft Excel¸ spreadsheet format and is designed to be accessible to both professional and lay audiences.

Analysis of the SON data has been effectively used to communicate key messages to inform decision-making in Bristol's Local Strategic Partnership, and improved the targeting and performance management of Bristol's NR delivery.

BACKGROUND:

AIMS:

In Bristol, nine geographical areas of the city were identified in 2000 and have been the focus of NR funding and work since that time. The aim of SON was to provide data at a local 'neighbourhood' level for each of these NR areas. Whilst traditional sources of small area data such as the Census and the Indices of Deprivation provided useful baseline information, the infrequency of their revision renders them useless for tracking change over time. Therefore, the information really needed to be brought up-to-date and collected more frequently to enable effective, monitoring, evaluation and performance management of NR delivery.

The Government Office of the South West (GOSW) Neighbourhood Regeneration team was also looking to receive far more detailed and timely reports on the impact of NR funding. Management Reports required more data and the ability to highlight the gaps in NR areas and the surrounding city.

CHALLENGES:

The system needed to provide usable data that was far more inclusive and at the right geographical level than had previously been available. Bristol's Local Strategic Partnership (The Bristol Partnership) had anecdotal and some (patchy) collections of data indicating where the challenges and needs were greatest but did not have a comprehensive set of data to provide a consistent overview. Data was required from a range of different organisations all of which varied in how they collected data and reported data.

HISTORY:

Despite considerable NR funded activity between 2001-04 (through over 300 projects and initiatives) there was ongoing concern that some problems and areas were still falling through the cracks and that the citywide impact of NR activity was not being effectively measured. For this reason, there was a need for data collection to be more effectively co-ordinated and shared across the different organisations and areas involved in or affected by NR delivery. Whilst data was available at a 'macro' citywide level, and local knowledge and output information from NR funded projects provided information at the 'micro' neighbourhood level, there was little mid-level information available to enable a comparison between areas within the city, over time. This mid-level information was essential to effectively understand the extent and location of the inequalities gap (a predominant focus of the national NR strategy), to enable more effective targeting of funds/activities and for ongoing monitoring, performance management and evaluation of delivery.

RESEARCH:

A wide range of local and national data was identified as being relevant to the SON project from sources including: Office for National Statistics, Police, Local Education Authority (LEA) and Primary Care Trusts (PCT). Datasets were to include educational attainment, absences and exclusions, health, unemployment, reported crime, road safety and some of the Bristol Quality of Life survey datasets.

PROFILES OF PEOPLE INVOLVED:

Nick Harrison, a policy officer at Bristol City Council, working in the Chief Executive's Department, undertook the project, which took approx 50% of his time over a 12-month period. Nick's background in both social research methods and communications proved to be a useful combination of skills which enabled him to deal with both the technical and 'softer-skills' aspects of developing the SON and ensuring its effective use.

CASE STUDY DETAIL:

An initial obstacle to the project was lack of budget. Driven by the need to produce a reliable and useful data system cheaply, the decision was taken to develop and present SON using Microsoft Excel¸ spreadsheets. This approach was considered most appropriate given that most potential audiences for the data would have access to the software and be familiar with its use, thus improving the data's accessibility.

The first task was the identification of the data to be used. The data had to report on indicators relevant to the NR floor target areas and be available at a neighbourhood level. The criteria were made even tighter by the need to include time-series data which was crucial for tracking change over time.

Initially, time was spent researching possible data sources. This was done by a combination of desk research and by liaising with analysts from the different service delivery agencies working across the city (e.g. PCT, Police and LEA). This enabled a deeper understanding of what data would fit the SON criteria.

Indicators were selected as a result of this initial research and through further consultation with the NR delivery team in Bristol City Council.

Once selected, the data was gathered through a process of both formal and informal requests (this was later formalised to ensure all data was received in a similar format and to ensure high-level organisational support of data-sharing between partners).

Once reorganised into a standard display format and checked for accuracy, the data was presented in Excel spreadsheets which were collated into spreadsheet 'books' relating to each of the NR theme areas. The front worksheet presented a menu of datasets and contained links to the relevant worksheets in the book which held the data itself. This format provided an attractive and accessible interface (similar to a webpage) and encouraged use. Each of the worksheets displayed the data for a single indicator, providing both rates (e.g. 16%) and actual counts (e.g. 2,156). Each workbook included notes pages which provided information about the source of the data, any calculations which had been performed (such as conversion to rates), data quality issues and any other information necessary for users to accurately interpret and use the numbers. A page of website links to other useful sources of data and information was also included in each workbook.

RESULTS:

The SON database was published on the NR website with some simple summary graphs comparing NR areas with non-NR areas. This provided a clear indication of both change over time and the gap between NR and non-NR areas. (www.bristolforward.net/evaluation/neighbourhoods.asp.)

Nick then began a process of promoting and raising awareness of SON which included a series of presentations to partners and groups across the city, explaining what SON was, how it worked and how it could be useful for their work.

A primary audience for the SON was the Regeneration Delivery Group (RDG) of the Bristol Partnership. Given the limited capacity of the group to scrutinise and analyse raw data, Nick and his team produced some initial analysis of Education and Crime datasets. This analysis was then presented to the Bristol Partnership's Evaluation Reference Group (ERG) which is a cross partner group of research and evaluation professionals. The ERG was asked to decide on (based on the analysis) six key messages emerging from the data which should be presented to the RDG for consideration in decision-making and communication to partners. By providing

Nick then prepared themed reports, containing the six key messages, the supporting evidence (from analysis of the SON) and suggestions for where the reports should be circulated to best inform decision-making across the city. These were delivered to the RDG for consideration in May and July 2005.

The Education Theme report can be downloaded here.

The Crime Theme report can be downloaded here.

CONCLUSIONS:

The single most important element in securing the best and most appropriate data possible was building effective working relationships with data providers to ensure good communication and mutual support through the data-sharing process.

Once SON had been created, it was also important to explain and promote the database and the information it provided. Policy makers need to be informed by analysts who collect and analyse data but analysts may not always understand or effectively communicate the link between what the data is saying and what the implications are for policy and decision-making. Nick felt using SON to improve communication between these two groups and providing evidence-based policy recommendations has been one of the most important roles of the SON. As Nick says "Getting the best quality, most appropriate data is only half the job, just as important is effectively communicating what the data is saying to inform decision-making."

There does not have to be a large budget to create a successful dataset. Expensive software and geographical mapping systems can often provide too much information or make access too exclusive so it doesn't actually get used for inform and influence decision-making. What is most important is getting the best quality, most appropriate data possible, analysing it well and communicating what it is saying to the right people to inform strategic and (ultimately) operational decisions.

DO'S AND DON'TS

• Do build good relations and understanding with data providers and users.
• Do look at other examples and learn from other peoples' experiences.
• Do be clear on what data is for and who the audiences are.
• Do establish clear protocols (formal or informal) for sharing data.
• Do ensure you get high-level support for finding and using the evidence.
• Do ensure that the messages from the data are effectively communicated to the right audiences.
• Don't get too caught up in fancy data interfaces, keep focussed on getting the data and information to the right people in a way they will use it.
• Don't be put off if there is limited budget available, most of the work is just staff-time.
• Don't take it for granted that you know what users need - find out.
• Don't be put off by people's concerns over sharing data, find ways to reassure them and ensure you get the data you need.
• Don't assume that providing the data is enough, you need to ensure that its messages get through to the right people.

FIND OUT MORE:

SON is now being managed by:
Quendreda Geuter, Research & Evaluation Officer, Regeneration Division,
Bristol City Council, 0117 92 24965, quen_geuter@bristol-city.gov.uk.

Contact:
Nick Harrison, SELD on 01823 447397, nick.harrison@swo.org.uk.