Local Needs Databank

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Welcome to the beta version of NPC’s renewed and redeveloped Local Needs Databank: a comprehensive, accessible, and free resource for the charity sector!

Jump to Databank

We hope that the databank will become a go-to resource for all those looking for data insights across the sector. We’re starting out with dashboards on health and social care, advice and support services, contextualised by information on poverty and deprivation, as well as on grant availability. More dashboards are to follow. The databank is a work in progress to make sure that what we’re working on is right for you. Tell us what you think.

There’s information from charities too, including from Buttle UK and Trussell Trust. We’d love it if you’d like to contribute some of your own data, which is as easy as pi, thanks to the data standard developed by our partner Data for Action.

If you get stuck the videos below will help you navigate your way around and there are also some FAQs.

As this is a beta version we’d love to hear how you are using the tool and do let us know if there is any data work we can support you with.

The Local Needs Databank

Supported by The Health Foundation

In partnership with Data for Action

FAQs

Who is the Databank for?

The databank is for anyone in the charity sector who want to know more about the local areas in which they work and is looking to explore this with data.

Why has NPC created this databank?

NPC wants to make it easier for charities to explore and use data, for example, to support funding applications, to work out where they should locate their services and programmes, or to identify beneficiaries to work with.

Why these dashboards and data?

Our dashboards are designed to spotlight key data points and trends, enhancing visibility into specific areas of interest as our databank expands. While not all data is displayed on the dashboards, you can explore the entire databank on the Data Explorer page. We are committed to continuously adding more thematic areas as more data becomes available.

How granular is the data?

Most geographic data is at a Local Authority Level, which reflects the availability of most geographic data. This should help most charities that operate on a local scale. Though we plan to include more granular data levels, such as ward level, in the future, this requires a greater volume of detailed data contributions.

Why isn’t the data UK-wide?

The datasets vary across the UK due to different administrative practices in each nation. As a result, some dashboards may only show data for specific countries like England and Wales, excluding Scotland and Northern Ireland.

How do I make the data most relevant for me?

There are a few ways that you can make the data most relevant for you. You can click on buttons to change the format in which the data is presented: e.g. table versus chart and which Local Authorities you want to look at. Furthermore, using the ‘Explore’ tab, you can download dated in CSV format for further analysis, or as images for presentation purposes.

What is the best way to use the databank: Mobile vs. Desktop?

For optimal viewing and interaction, use the databank on a tablet, laptop, or desktop. While it is mobile-responsive, the detailed charts and tables are best navigated on larger screens for a better user experience.

What will happen to my data?

All data contributed to the databank will be available for use through dashboards and downloads. Data is kept in a secure database. We are focused on anonymised and aggregated data for the databank so no personal data is stored.

Why Data For Action are involved in this?

NPC’s original data bank was built by our staff, but we realised the limitations of this. NPC decided to work with Data for Action to built a more robust, flexible and durable version of the databank. Data for Action has both excellent programming skills but also a strong commitment to data sharing and data openness in the charity sector.

Data For Action is driven by principles. Two of these principles being Open by Default and Reuse, Repurpose and Reimagine. The Local Needs Databank is designed with these principles in mind. We believe that sharing data and insight openly can help us all work better, so the Databank is designed to make sharing data easier. We also believe in supporting others to reuse and repurpose data in multiple ways, that is why data is available through dashboards, but also through downloads and an API.

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