As an Analyst, I believe that data is truly one of the most fascinating lenses to view the world. The truth is, it’s not the numbers themselves that are so interesting but what they are able to tell us about the world around us. All the information that we interact with every day is data in disguise and understanding our local context is at the centre of our place based working approach.
I began my career at Essex County Council eight years ago in a Business Support role, before moving into data and finance. It was during this time that I discovered the power of data driven decision making and its ability to shape outcomes. This sparked a passion for understanding data deeply and exploring how it can be harnessed to create meaningful value.
Why data matters for Active Essex
Good quality data is essential for us in our mission to increase physical activity across the county. When we use data effectively, we gain a clearer understanding of what’s happening in Essex, laying the foundation for better decisions, smarter strategies and sustainable change.
At Active Essex, we collect data in different ways, to understand behaviours, identify gaps and make sure our programmes reach the right people. We use gamification in projects such as Beat The Street (BTS), which shows us where inactivity is highest so we can target support. We also use publicly available data on free school meal eligibility, obesity rates, and crime, mapping these alongside Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) club locations to focus on communities where activities will have the biggest impact. This data allows us to focus on communities where activities will have the biggest impact. Finally, we use Monday.com to keep everything organised, so our data drives smarter, more efficient delivery across the county.
Data and Local Knowledge: A Powerful Partnership
Data helps us spot patterns, predict outcomes and make choices based on evidence rather than intuition alone. Combining population and project level data with detailed local knowledge and community voice helps us to build a fuller picture of our communities and their needs.
For example, recent analysis of community needs data helped identify pockets of wealth and deprivation within our districts to better understand potential barriers and enablers to physical activity on a local level. By using data at a granular LSOA level (small geographical areas), we are able to identify local disparities which could be missed at whole district level. When this insight is combined with strong local knowledge from working closely with communities, we are able to build a solid evidence base to help address barriers effectively.
What Data Reveals
Data can uncover trends and behaviours that aren’t always obvious at first glance. It can confirm what we already know or suspect and change the way we look at something. For example, evidencing the correlation between areas of high deprivation and high inactivity within Essex, identifying areas of high inequality, and highlighting where our population is most diverse.
Tracking Progress and Impact
Data enables us to measure the difference we’re making. Analysing project and population level data shows the impact of our interventions. For instance, the Active Lives Survey data gives us a snapshot across our Active Partnership, revealing trends such as the effect of COVID-19 on activity levels.
Targeting Resources Where They’re Needed Most
We always strive to ensure the best use of our resources. Tools like the IMD (Indices of Multiple Deprivation), Health Index and CNI (Community Needs Index), help us identify areas with overlapping needs, allowing us to prioritise interventions based on evidence.
The real challenge with any dataset is unlocking its value and turning it into actionable insight, which is where the magic happens. Data isn’t numbers. It is knowledge, and getting to know Essex is the first step towards driving real change.
Five Months In: My Reflections
I’m now five months into my role as Analyst for Active Essex, and I couldn’t be happier with the team’s culture. We’re efficient, capable, and incredibly supportive of one another. The after-work socials are a highlight for me since we have such a diverse, close-knit team, and it’s special to be part of that.
Something I’ve learned about Essex? It’s home to eight beautiful county parks, perfect for dog walks and picnics! I’m also excited to be delivering my third service-wide presentation since joining. I can’t wait to continue developing my analytical, strategic, and public speaking skills here at Active Essex.
