Connecting Society: How everyday data can shape our lives – Details, episodes & analysis

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Connecting Society: How everyday data can shape our lives

ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK)

Science

Government

Education

Frequency: 1 episode/44d. Total Eps: 15

Ever wondered what happens to all the data collected about you by government and public services? Whenever you sit a school exam, visit your GP, go to court, or pay tax, a wealth of information is created to help these services run. But how is this data used, and could it actually improve your life?

Connecting Society explores the fascinating world of administrative data. Through conversations with experts, we reveal how linking data and making it available for research can uncover solutions to real-world, interconnected challenges - from improving health outcomes to tackling inequality and more.

Join our hosts, Mark Green, Professor of Health Geography at the University of Liverpool and ADR UK Ambassador, and Shayda Kashef, Senior Public Engagement Manager at ADR UK, to discover how the data shaping your life could also help shape the future.

Connecting Society is presented by Shayda Kashef and Mark Green, our producers are Eleanor Collard, Holly Greenland, Laura Mulvey and Shayda Kashef.

This podcast is brought to you by ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK), a partnership transforming public sector data into research insights and policy evidence to improve lives. We are an investment by the Economic and Social Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation.

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Bonus episode: All your data questions, unwrapped

Season 2 · Episode 1

Thursday, December 18, 2025 • Duration 21:57

Time flies - and yes, we have returned with another festive episode. After a hiatus, hosts Shayda and Mark return for a one-off Christmas bonus ahead of Connecting Society series two launching in 2026.

This episode flips the format and hands things over to you. Shayda and Mark answer listener questions and some of the most common queries that come up during ADR UK’s public engagement work, from favourite administrative datasets to data security, skills, and how the public can get involved in research.

A festive, long-overdue catch up, a behind-the-scenes look at administrative data, and a warm lead-in to series two.

We'd love to hear from you! If you'd like your question answered in a future episode, send us an email or a voice note with your question to hub@adruk.org.

If you're a member of the public looking to get involved in research, take a look at the ADR UK Working with the public page, or check out these opportunities with our friends: Join HDR UK Voices - HDR UK and Our Data, Our Say - DARE UK.

Connecting Society is presented by Shayda Kashef-Tomlins and Mark Green, our producers are Eleanor Collard, Holly Greenland, Laura Mulvey and Shayda Kashef.

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Festive special: Data Claus is coming to town

Season 1 · Episode 7

Thursday, December 19, 2024 • Duration 15:40

On the first day of Christmas, your producers sent to thee… a bonus episode of Connecting Society 🎁

Mark and Shayda are coming together in person for the very first time to bring you this special festive episode. They answer some burning questions, including: what actually is their favourite statistic? Can we ever agree how to pronounce data? What are some surprising facts about the holiday season? And does Santa use administrative data for his naughty/nice list?

Grab a warm drink, settle in, and join us for an episode full of revelations, anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes secrets.

Connecting Society is presented by Shayda Kashef-Tomlins and Mark Green, our producers are Eleanor Collard, Holly Greenland, Laura Mulvey and Shayda Kashef.

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Your data, your rights

Season 1 · Episode 6

Monday, December 16, 2024 • Duration 29:44

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/, , .

Redefining research with care experienced young people

Season 1 · Episode 5

Thursday, December 12, 2024 • Duration 30:37

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: Discover the public dialogue between ADR UK and Office for Statistics Regulation:

How data is shaping a healthier Wales

Season 1 · Episode 4

Monday, December 9, 2024 • Duration 31:35

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 , and .

Inside the working lives of nurses and midwives

Season 1 · Episode 3

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 • Duration 27:58

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/.

Justice in the age of data

Season 1 · Episode 2

Thursday, November 28, 2024 • Duration 27:48

In this episode, we examine how data collected by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is being used to drive positive change in the justice system. Our discussion explores the types of data the MoJ collects, why it is collected, and how de-identifying, linking, and sharing this information securely for research can reveal new insights into the justice system.

Amy Summerfield, Head of Evidence and Partnerships at the MoJ, shares how data linkage programmes like the Data First initiative aim to address issues such as reoffending and improve the efficiency of justice services. We also hear from David Maguire, Project Director of the Building Futures programme at the Prison Reform Trust, who sheds light on the realities faced by people in the justice system. From the probation system to outcomes for defendants, prisoners, and the wider public, David highlights gaps in understanding and what changes are most urgently needed.

Through real-world examples, this episode demonstrates how using administrative data can contribute to better outcomes for those in the justice system, support for justice personnel, and a more efficient and effective system overall.

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 Data First go to https://www.adruk.org/our-work/browse-all-projects/data-first-harnessing-the-potential-of-linked-administrative-data-for-the-justice-system-169/, or for information on MoJ datasets made available by ADR UK: https://www.adruk.org/data-access/flagship-datasets/?tx_llcatalog_pi%5Bfilters%5D%5Bwork%5D=800&cHash=c420033b8cba2bed85ac90343d2aeab9.

To change the outcomes, change the system

Season 1 · Episode 1

Thursday, November 21, 2024 • Duration 34:55

Administrative data is about real people and their lives. So in the first episode of Connecting Society, we’re diving into the big picture behind the vision of ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK): why does using administrative data for public good research matter? How can it make a meaningful difference to society? And is your data being stored and used securely?

Joining us to unpack these questions are Dr Emma Gordon, ADR UK’s Director, and Ally McAlpine, the Scottish Government’s Chief Statistician and Co-Director of ADR Scotland.

This episode explores the state of the data landscape before ADR UK’s work began, the goals we’re moving towards, and the benefits this work brings to the public. Our guests will also share their personal career journeys, what motivates them, and why they believe this work is so important.

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/.

Read an article from Emma which provides more information on the background of ADR UK: https://www.globalgovernmentforum.com/to-change-the-outcome-of-a-process-you-have-to-be-prepared-to-change-the-system-five-minutes-with-public-service-data-live-speaker-administrative-data-research-uk-director-emma-go/.

Connecting Society is presented by Shayda Kashef-Tomlins and Mark Green, our producers are Eleanor Collard, Holly Greenland, Laura Mulvey and Shayda Kashef.

Can administrative data save your life?

Thursday, January 29, 2026 • Duration 29:44

Good health is something we all need – but it doesn’t simply start and end with the body. Increasingly, we’re beginning to understand how different parts of our lives and circumstances can combine and interact to shape our health, including from before we’re even born. Economic circumstances, social inequalities and childhood experiences all have a role to play in public health.

Because administrative data contains a wealth of information about these different areas of our lives, it can be a valuable tool for research to help us understand and improve wellbeing. By linking this data together, we can build a better picture of how different aspects of public life affect our health.

In the first episode of series 2, co-hosts Shayda Kashef and Mark Green are joined by Helena Benes Matos da Silva. Helena is an epidemiologist working with the Nutrition Group at Cidacs, the Centre for Data and Knowledge Integrations for Health in Brazil. The conversation draws on her varied career to explore the complex human experiences underlying our health, and how data can shed light on these connections.

Want to know more about administrative data? Visit: adruk.org.

Read more about the work of Cidacs here: cidacs.bahia.fiocruz.br

Co-host Shayda Kashef mentions the ECHILD dataset; read more about the data and how to access it here: adruk.org/data-access/flagship-datasets/education-and-child-health-insights-from-linked-data-england

Connecting Society is presented by Shayda Kashef-Tomlins and Mark Green, our producers are Eleanor Collard, Holly Greenland, Laura Mulvey and Shayda Kashef.

Can evaluation be a violent act? Rethinking policy evaluation

Season 2 · Episode 2

Thursday, February 26, 2026 • Duration 26:34

Evaluation is often seen as a neutral and technical process: collecting data, measuring outcomes, and judging whether a policy or programme “worked”. But what if the way we evaluate is shaping - and sometimes harming - the very systems and communities we’re trying to improve?

Dr Luke Roberts is a complexity theorist and evaluator who argues that traditional approaches to policy evaluation do not account for the complex, adaptive systems that underpin society. From inequality and public services to technology adoption and the future of work, change doesn’t happen in neat, linear ways. Yet, evaluation methods often impose fixed timelines, rigid metrics and narrow perspectives that can risk missing what really matters.

In this episode, we’ll explore Luke’s provocative claim that evaluation can be a violent act. His work invites us to consider how researchers can think differently about intervention-based policy and how it’s evaluated. We’ll discuss how alternative approaches to evaluation could transform how we use data, involve lived experience, and design policies that help people and systems thrive.

Want to know more about administrative data? Visit: adruk.org

Connecting Society is presented by Shayda Kashef-Tomlins and Mark Green, our producers are Eleanor Collard, Holly Greenland, Laura Mulvey and Shayda Kashef.

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Connecting Society: How everyday data can shape our lives – Details, episodes & analysis

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Connecting Society: How everyday data can shape our lives – Details, episodes & analysis

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