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Local authorities are increasingly thinking about how they can work with data differently to answer research questions. The resources on this page provide introductory information about working with data for research purposes and examples of how local authorities are building infrastructure so they can do more with data.
Spotlight sessions
Spotlight sessions
📅 Wednesday 20 January 2027
🕛 10 to 11am
📍 MS Teams
Join HDRC Lambeth and HDRC Bradford to hear about their work to bring together data sets to improve local services. HDRC Lambeth have worked with NHS colleagues to link data to understand the experiences of residents with coexisting mental health and social care needs. HDRC Bradford are linking routine data collected by the council with health data through the Connected Bradford platform. Both projects are enabling valuable insights on the factors contributing to population health and inequalities.
📅 Thursday 25 February 2027
🕛 10 to 11am
📍 MS Teams
How do we get the public to trust use of data for research purposes? Better use of routine data can support prevention approaches, priority setting and good use of limited resources but with so much in the news around misuse of data, the public can feel wary. Join us to hear about how HDRC Bradford have used creative methods to explore this topic with local communities and how HDRC Lambeth have worked with service users as part of an innovative data linkage topic.
📅 Thursday 18 March 2027
🕛 10 to 11am
📍 MS Teams
NHS secure data environments are being introduced across England to bring together data in a safe place for research. Bringing local authority data into these environments could provide a richer picture of the relationship between socioeconomic circumstances and the wider determinants of health, opening up opportunities for prevention and inequalities research. Join HDRC Newcastle to hear how they are working with NHS colleagues to bring local authority data into the Secure Data Environment.
Resources
Resources
This document provides an introduction to what can be considered research data and an overview of key terms and definitions.
This introductory guidance covers the basics of research data management, including key components of a data management plan and information on informed consent to use data for research purposes.
This is an introductory resource for local authority colleagues interested in sharing data for research purposes. It may also be of interest to academic researchers seeking to work in collaboration with local authorities on a data related research project.
This short resource provides a step-by-step guide to developing a research project using routine data.
Learning stories
Learning stories
Read about how HDRCs and local authorities are working with data differently to gain new insights on the needs of local communities.
HDRC Coventry developed and implemented a data catalogue from February 2025 to January 2026 to bring together publicly accessible datasets into one place.
Connected Bradford is a secure, cloud-based database managed by Bradford Institute of Health Research that contains individual-level linked data for over 800,000 people across Bradford spanning over 40 years.
HDRC Bradford are undertaking an innovative piece of work which aims to better understand public attitudes to sharing routinely collected local data.
The Lambeth Adult Social Care team identified the need for a joined-up evidence base to better understand pathways, demand pressures, inequalities, and opportunities for earlier intervention.
HDRC North Yorkshire created a trusted research environment to collaborate on research with other partners whilst keeping data safe.
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