SPARK Collaboration Sheds Light on ‘Hidden Children’ in Education and Health

At the Social Science Research Park (SPARK), we champion collaborative research that addresses pressing societal issues. Recently, SPARK-affiliated centres joined forces on a study exploring disparities in education and health among children with social care involvement. The research, led by the DECIPHer centre with Dr. Sara Long as Principal Investigator and published by BMC Public Health and the SAIL Databank, highlights these ‘hidden children’ who may be falling through the gaps due to complex social care factors.

This project was a collaborative effort involving the Wolfson Centre, DECIPHer, CASCADE, and Cardiff University’s Division of Population Medicine, with additional support from the University of Aberdeen, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Population Data Science, Swansea University, and Public Health Wales. It demonstrates SPARK’s commitment to fostering partnerships that drive impactful social science work. By connecting Cardiff University’s research centres with external organisations, we aim to create a network that not only brings critical disparities to light but also works towards actionable insights. The study showcases the unique value of cross-collaborative efforts within SPARK to tackle challenges from multiple perspectives.

As we continue to support collaborative projects that impact policy, practice, and societal well-being, SPARK remains dedicated to empowering social science researchers to drive positive change through innovation and shared expertise.

For further details, you can access the full paper here. For a concise overview, explore the summary with animation here.