Connecting Society: How everyday data can shape our lives

In a data-driven world, administrative data holds the power to tackle society’s toughest challenges - from improving healthcare and education to boosting the economy. But how do we ensure this data is used securely, ethically, and for the public good?Featuring Nikhil Harsiani, Data Ethics Policy Advisor at the UK Statistics Authority, and Mhairi Aitken, Senior Ethics Fellow in the Public Policy Programme at The Alan Turing Institute, this final episode dives into how legal safeguards and public engagement combine to protect privacy while demonstrating trustworthiness. Discover trusted research environments, the Five Safes framework, and how involving communities makes research more transparent and impactful.This conversation unpacks how strong protections and meaningful public dialogue are building a system where data serves as a force for public good, delivering solutions that are as fair and trustworthy as they are effective. Wondering what administrative data is? Visit https://www.adruk.org/our-mission/administrative-data/.If we used any terms you're not familiar with, check out ADR UK's glossary at https://www.adruk.org/learning-hub/glossary/.For information on legal frameworks: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2017/30/part/5/chapter/5, https://www.adruk.org/fileadmin/uploads/adruk/Documents/The_legal_framework_for_accessing_data_April_2023.pdf, https://www.adruk.org/learning-hub/skills-and-resources-to-use-administrative-data/accessing-data-for-research/.Learn more about ethical data use and the public good: https://www.adruk.org/our-mission/ethics-responsibility/, https://uksa.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/publication/guidelines-on-using-the-ethics-self-assessment-process/, https://uksa.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/publication/considering-public-good-in-research-and-statistics-ethics-guidance/pages/1/.Discover approaches to public engagement: https://www.adruk.org/our-mission/working-with-the-public/, https://www.adruk.org/fileadmin/uploads/adruk/Documents/PE_reports_and_documents/ADR_UK_OSR_Public_Dialogue_final_report_October_2022.pdf, https://uksa.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/publication/considering-public-views-and-engagement-regarding-the-use-of-data-for-research-and-statistics/pages/1/.Connecting Society is brought to you by ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK). Find out more about ADR UK on our website, or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. This podcast builds on a pilot series known as DataPod, produced by ADR Scotland.

How can co-producing research with historically excluded groups drive impact? In Northern Ireland, a unique partnership between the charity Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) and ADRC NI (Administrative Data Research Centre Northern Ireland) has placed care experienced young people at the heart of research about their lives. These young people have shaped the research by defining priorities, providing feedback, and translating findings into engaging resources.Guests Brenda Kilpatrick, Engagement Development Worker at VOYPIC, and Elizabeth Nelson, Public Engagement, Communications and Impact Manager at ADRC NI, share how this approach has amplified the voices of care experienced young people while improving the ethical and practical value of research. By involving those directly affected, the collaboration has set a new standard for inclusivity, trustworthiness, and accountability in data-driven decision-making.This story of co-production offers important lessons for researchers, policymakers, and communities, showing how consulting historically excluded groups can lead to higher quality research and more meaningful outcomes for everyone.Wondering what administrative data is? Visit https://www.adruk.org/our-mission/administrative-data/.If we used any terms you're not familiar with, check out ADR UK's glossary at https://www.adruk.org/learning-hub/glossary/.For information on the partnership with VOYPIC and ADRC NI, visit https://www.adruk.org/news-publications/news-blogs/involving-historically-excluded-groups-how-were-co-producing-data-driven-research-with-care-experienced-young-people/. Find out about VOYPIC's work: https://www.voypic.org/Read a blog from Liz on the collaboration: https://www.adruk.org/news-publications/news-blogs/embedding-co-production-in-data-research-how-internships-can-contribute/Explore the young person's guide to co-production: https://www.adruk.org/news-publications/publications-reports/a-young-persons-guide-for-researchers-co-producing-data-research-with-under-served-groups/Discover the public dialogue between ADR UK and Office for Statistics Regulation: https://www.adruk.org/learning-hub/skills-and-resources-to-use-administrative-data/public-engagement-in-practice/lessons-learned-from-a-uk-wide-public-dialogue/Connecting Society is brought to you by ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK). Find out more about ADR UK on our website, or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. This podcast builds on a pilot series known as DataPod, produced by ADR Scotland.

Wales’s health and care system is grappling with complex, interconnected issues and opportunities, including an ageing population, inequalities, and the rise of new healthcare technologies. Tackling these now and in the future will require evidence-based policies and strategies that connect health outcomes with broader social factors such as housing, education, and income. A recent Welsh Government report, "Science Evidence Advice: NHS in 10+ Years" (aka. the SEA Report), highlights these intersections and guides the nation’s vision under the A Healthier Wales strategy. In this fourth episode, we explore how administrative data is uniquely positioned to help. We’re joined by Tracey Breheny, Director for Strategy and Corporate Business, Health, Social Care & Early Years Group at the Welsh Government, who unpacks the insights these linked datasets provide, the current situation facing healthcare, and the potential of data-driven policymaking. Dot Williams, Project Officer at the Butterfly Conservation and member of the SAIL Databank Consumer Panel, offers a personal perspective on navigating Wales’s health services and shares her vision for positive change.From improving workforce conditions to addressing health inequalities, this episode reveals how data is shaping a healthier, more equitable Wales. Wondering what administrative data is? Visit https://www.adruk.org/our-mission/administrative-data/.If we used any terms you're not familiar with, check out ADR UK's glossary at https://www.adruk.org/learning-hub/glossary/.For information on the Welsh Government report and strategy go to https://www.gov.wales/report-projections-health-evidence-and-policy-recommendations and https://www.gov.wales/healthier-wales-long-term-plan-health-and-social-care. For information on ADR Wales work in the areas of health, wellbeing, and social care, visit https://www.adruk.org/our-work/browse-all-projects/adr-wales-themed-projects-health-and-well-being-1/, https://www.adruk.org/our-work/browse-all-projects/adr-wales-themed-projects-social-care/ and https://www.adruk.org/our-work/browse-all-projects/adr-wales-themed-projects-major-societal-challenges/.Connecting Society is brought to you by ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK). Find out more about ADR UK on our website, or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. This podcast builds on a pilot series known as DataPod, produced by ADR Scotland.

Nursing and midwifery form the backbone of the UK’s healthcare system, but the sector faces significant challenges - impacting both professionals' wellbeing and the quality of care patients receive. Administrative data collected by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) holds the key to understanding these issues, and research using this data offers a path to evidence-based solutions. This episode unpacks the wealth of information the NMC collects, how it’s being made available for public good research, and the ambitions behind linking it with other datasets. From analysing workforce trends to revealing inequalities, this data has the power to drive policies and interventions that better support nurses, midwives, and the communities they care for. Our guests, Caroline Kenny, Head of Research and Evidence at the NMC, and Fiona Gibb, Director of Professional Midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives, share their journeys into the sector and provide insight into the experiences of nurses and midwives. They discuss what’s missing in the current evidence base and the meaningful improvements they hope this research can bring to the field. Wondering what administrative data is? Visit https://www.adruk.org/our-mission/administrative-data/.If we used any terms you're not familiar with, check out ADR UK's glossary at https://www.adruk.org/learning-hub/glossary/.For information about nursing and midwifery data recently made available by ADR Scotland, go to https://www.adruk.org/data-access/flagship-datasets/nursing-and-midwifery-council-register-linked-to-census-2021-england-and-wales/ and https://www.adruk.org/our-work/browse-all-projects/exploring-the-dynamics-of-the-nursing-and-midwifery-workforce-749/. Connecting Society is brought to you by ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK). Find out more about ADR UK on our website, or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. This podcast builds on a pilot series known as DataPod, produced by ADR Scotland.