The LARIA Research Impact Awards recognise the impact of research as a local level and showcase the very best work of our members. The winners were announced on the first day of the LARIA Conference at our awards dinner.

Best use of local area research – Sponsored by the Local Government Association (LGA)

To win this award the successful entrant will show how their research has led to a greater understanding of a local area or an issue that is locally important. This could be based on primary or secondary data analysis. Not only that, but they must also show that this has led to evidence-based decision-making within at least one public sector body. Judges were looking for submissions that show a well-argued methodology, clear reporting of the findings and impact. Ideally the winner also shows strong partnership working, citizen/user involvement/engagement, innovation, and the outcomes that have been achieved locally.

Winner: 

• Revealing Reality (ESRO)/London Borough of Waltham Forest – The value of making friends: How a deeper understanding of user need has created a brighter future for children in Waltham Forest

Highly commended:

• Lancashire County Council: Breaking the boundaries – service planning based on need not construct

Shortlisted:

• Lancashire County Council & Lancashire Constabulary: Integrating data encouraging collaborative working to reduce alcohol related harm
• Manchester City Council: Neighbourhood Intelligence
• Staffordshire County Council: Improving Educational Outcomes in Staffordshire; an exploration of what impacts on a ‘good’ education and how it can be improved

Best use of social care or health research

To win this award the successful entrant will show how their research has led to a greater understanding of a social care or health issue. This could be based on primary or secondary data analysis. Not only that, but they must also show that this has led to evidence-based decision-making within the social care or health sectors. Our definition of social care and health sectors is in the broadest sense and includes public health. We welcome entries that cover more than one sector. Judges were looking for submissions that show a well-argued methodology, clear reporting of the findings and impact. Ideally the winner also show strong partnership working, citizen/user involvement/engagement, innovation, and the outcomes that have been achieved locally.

Winner:

• Miller Research and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board – Formative evaluation of the ‘In One Place Programme’

Highly commended:

• Lancashire County Council: Saving the children – making infant deaths everybody’s business
• Revealing Reality (ESRO)/Wirral:  The Barriers of Binary Thinking: Tackling Health-related Worklessness on the Wirral

Shortlisted:

• Essex County Council and Rural Community Council for Essex, British Red Cross, Age UK and Essex Neighbourhood Watch: Demonstrating the impact of a new community run prevention initiative ‘Community Agents’ in Essex
• Manchester City Council and Manchester CCGs Business Intelligence Team: Understanding Health Demands in Manchester

Most engaging presentation of local area research

To win this award the successful entrant will show how they have successfully presented local area research to aid understanding of a local area, community or health issue. The audience for this presentation could include senior decision-makers, staff, the media and the public. The format of the presentation could include (but is not limited to) a written report, conference presentation, event/seminar, videos, infographics, an online portal/website or use of media. Judges were looking for submissions that show a creative approach that understands the needs of the audience receiving the information. There should be evidence that research findings have been reported clearly and are fairly represented by the presentation of it. Ideally the winner will also show strong partnership working, citizen/user involvement/engagement, innovation and the outcomes that have been achieved locally.

Winner:

• Oxfordshire County Council – Creative responses to local Data Users’ needs: Data Stories and R-Area Profiles

Highly commended:

• Suffolk County Council: The Suffolk Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA)

Shortlisted:

• Kirklees Council – Public Health Intelligence: Getting animated about presenting survey findings to young people
• Manchester City Council: Confident and Achieving Manchester Performance Framework
• Staffordshire County Council: Engaging and thought-provoking Performance Management information: Staffordshire’s development and introduction of interactive performance dashboards

New researcher of the year

This award is given to a researcher with under five years of experience in a research field who has made an impact. This could be a person of any age. The entry could be based on a particular project they have led, an innovation they have pioneered or a particularly strong skill set. Their career to date shows a researcher who is able to conduct research that provides insightful analysis, promotes citizen/user involvement/engagement, presents information well, and helps develop evidence-based decision-making in the public sector. We accept entrants who have had a longer career in research than five years, but have moved into a new research field of which they have under five years of experience. The researcher cannot nominate themselves for this award.

Winner:

• Sarah Thurgood – Kirklees Council

LARIA volunteer of the year

The volunteer of the year award is in the gift of the LARIA Council and recognises the work of a volunteer who has progressed the work of LARIA but does not sit on the LARIA Council. We are a voluntary organisation and without the work of our members we would not be here today. The winner this year has contributed for a number of years in helping LARIA make new contacts in the public health world, and helping to establish a strong public health element to the work of LARIA.

Winner: 

• Coryn Barclay