Essex Open Data needs you!
I am going to let you in on a little secret that is going to change your life. I hope you’re sitting down. You need open data. And, what’s more, open data needs you. Has your life changed yet? Ok, …
Our projects
Open Data: You have to see it for yourself
I often wish I had the ability to recall information about Essex at will. Like Neo, instantly learning how to do kung-fu while plugged into The Matrix. While it might not allow you to dodge bullets, Essex Open Data (found …
Making ends meet….
Michele Figg, BSc Geology (Bristol ’98) Listening to the radio a few weeks ago, over a cup of tea (and TBH a biscuit or two), as the government announced measures to alleviate fuel poverty over the winter months, I reflected …
Delving deeper to assess carers needs
In Essex there are estimated to be as many as 154,000 adults providing unpaid care. NLP is helping us to understand their needs in greater depth.
Why renting in later life matters for everyone
Renting in later life seems to touch on almost all aspects of life. Here we're sharing the findings of our first phase of analysis.
Thinking outside the [Primary Support Reason] box
Data loves a binary but as any social worker would I’m sure tell you - people don’t fit neatly into boxes! For much of our analysis there is a need to segment individuals into various groups, whether its budget code, …
Forecasting adult social care demand to prepare for the future
It’s often the case when we are busy, that we don’t take the time to reflect on or celebrate our successes. I am therefore enthusiastic to be taking the opportunity to do just that in this blog, sharing our methods …
Capturing golden nuggets through immersive research
Did you know that the average household throws away £60 worth of food every month? Or that recycling one banana peel can generate enough energy to charge two mobile phones? Food waste is a big problem for the planet, for Essex, and for our residents. To help inform a county-wide campaign, we set out to explore behaviours around food waste using an online research community approach.
Understanding Universal Credit Recipients
We recently began analysing Universal Credit claimant levels to support the Skills and Employability team to better understand why, despite record low unemployment, Universal Credit (UC) claimant numbers had barely decreased from their March 2021 peak[1]. [2]. Once we started …
It started with (the absence of) a SEND forecast….
We’ve never had the ability to place plan in SEND, now we can build new schools based on growth and needs forecasts, Ralph Holloway, Head of SEND Strategy and Innovation, ECC What started as a conversation two years ago about …