ADR England Public Insights Panel: The story so far

This blog by Tom Curran (The Social Agency) and Shayda Kashef (ADR UK) shares reflections from the first year of the ADR England Public Insights Panel. It explores how a diverse group of individuals from across the UK has come together to shape administrative data research, offering insights on what’s worked, what they’ve learned, and how public engagement is driving more inclusive, impactful work at ADR UK.

What do a survey of UK small and medium-sized enterprises, a register of children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and the structure of agricultural holdings in the European Union have in common? They’ve all been topics of discussion for ADR England’s Public Insights Panel!

Administrative data is information collected whenever everyday people interact with public services like schools and hospitals. As part of the ADR UK programme, our mission is to use this data to drive real social change, from improving public services to informing policy decisions that affect people’s everyday lives.

To do this, we believe it’s important for the public to have a voice in what we do.

That’s why, around this time last year, we partnered with The Social Agency to help us bring together 15 people from different walks of life, who became the very first members of the ADR England Public Insights Panel.

Every two months the panel meets people who work in the world of data, and shares ideas for how research or processes can be improved to align with the public interest.

A year on, we want to share some thoughts from us and the panelists on how the last 12 months have gone.   

1. Mix it up: The power of variety

All the time, people are creating administrative data - for example, when we visit our GP, pay our taxes, fill out a government survey, or go out and vote. This is what makes administrative data so useful: it can help to answer questions across many areas.

This also means that the variety of research using administrative data is huge. At the start we worried that this might be a problem, as the panel would need to get to grips with a dizzying number of different topics. Thankfully, this mix has proved to be a real plus for the panel. Not knowing what to expect at each meeting keeps things fresh and interesting.

“I like the diversity of people that come to the panel. You can never imagine what you're going to get at the next meeting or what it will be about.”

Going forward, panelists asked for even more variety - not just in topics, but also in how researchers present their work. Sure, everyone loves a good slide deck (right?), but why not mix it up a little from time to time?  

“A presentation is good, but if the researchers could also put stuff in a different way, that could help us look at things from different angles. That sort of diverse mix really helps to engage people.”

2. Make it simple: No academese here please!

Behind the scenes, one of the most common things we discuss with researchers is the need to simplify, simplify… and simplify again.

This isn’t because the public is unable to understand administrative data research. It’s because we - as people who work with administrative data - find it hard to translate what we do into language that everyday people can understand, in formats that cater to different needs and learning styles.

This is another reason why diversity is so important. What is simple for one person may be difficult for another; there isn’t always a one-size-fits all way to do things. Engaging the public is about providing variety, so that more people can be included.   

“We're a sort of diverse mix of people, which is the whole purpose of the panel. You've got auditory learners, you've got visual learners. So just catering and making sure that everyone's as included as possible is really important.” 

3. Keep it social: Building community

Joining an online call with 14 strangers to talk about something called ‘administrative data’ (a topic which you may have never heard of) can be a daunting task.

Fortunately, in the last year, those strangers have grown into a real community. Making this happen requires thoughtfulness and care. Panelists told us how much they appreciated making time in meetings for casual socialising, to allow people to feel comfortable with one another. Good facilitation means creating a space where everyone feels like their opinion is valued and relevant. Fun and games are also key – it can’t always be about data, all the time!  

“Everyone's opinion is respected. Everyone's very respectable and lets other people talk... I feel like I'm being a part of this project has made me feel like it's a bit of like a community”.

A shared vision for the future

Reflecting on the past year, we are reminded of the power of public engagement to transform not only the work we do, but also the way it is perceived by society. The Public Insights Panel has shown that when people are given a platform to share their insights, they can make a meaningful difference in shaping data research for the public good.

As we move forward, we’re excited to continue working with this dynamic group of individuals and welcome new voices into the conversation. Together, we can ensure that administrative data research serves as a force for positive change: one that reflects the values, priorities, and aspirations of the communities it seeks to benefit.

We invite you to follow the journey of the Public Insights Panel and explore how public engagement is shaping the future of data-driven decision-making. More information about the Public Insights Panel, including how to engage with them, is available on the ADR UK website. You can also explore our new public engagement pages.

Tom Curran is Associate Director at The Social Agency and Shayda Kashef is Senior Public Engagement Manager at the ADR UK Strategic Hub.