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From Evidence to Action: SPARK’s Public Sector Partnerships

27 May 2026
christaylor

christaylor

SPARK currently brings together 17 social science research centres committed to improving public policy and public services through evidence, collaboration and innovation. A defining feature of SPARK is its extensive and sustained partnerships with local authorities, Welsh Government, and the wider public sector, enabling research to translate directly into better decision‑making, improved services, and lasting social impact. It is also critical for us to work with third sector organisations – many of whom are (new) frontline service providers.

This summary highlights key exemplars across SPARK centres in five thematic areas. (NB This is not an exhaustive set of examples, and not all SPARK research centres are fully represented here)

 

  1. Health, Wellbeing & Social Care

Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP/Decipher collaboration on NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) – Rhondda Cynon Taf

Centre link: https://wcpp.org.uk/news/wcpp-to-co-lead-5-million-project-to-reduce-health-inequality/

  • Collaboration between RCT Council, Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board, Public Health Wales, and Cardiff University researchers affiliated to SPARK.
  • Aims to embed evidence use within local government and build research capacity.
  • SPARK researchers (including Prof Frances Rice) contribute to research design, data analysis and strategic support.

More info: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/about-us/what-we-do/core-workstreams/working-with-partners/local-authorities/health-determinants-research-collaborations
CASCADE – Children’s Social Care Collaborations

Centre link: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/cascade

  • Family VOICE Programme: collaboration with 15 local authorities across the UK to gather family group conference data and provide LA‑specific feedback reports.
  • Additional NIHR-funded study with five contributing LAs (via the Department for Education) linking social care records to national datasets to evaluate long-term outcomes using quasi‑experimental designs.
Centre for Adult Social Care Research (CARE) OMESH Study – Older Men’s Experiences of Hoarding

Centre link: https://careresearchwales.org

  • NIHR-funded, two-year programme delivered in collaboration with four Welsh local authorities.
  • Seeks to understand engagement with local authority services and improve social care responses.
Centre for Adult Social Care Research (CARE) Carers’ Needs Assessment Research (2026 onwards)

  • Led by Dr Jeremy Dixon, working with Blaenau Gwent, Gwynedd, Neath Port Talbot, and Torfaen councils on new approaches to carers’ assessments.
  • Currently in contracting stages; collaboration due to commence 2026.

  1. Education, Mental Health & Children’s Wellbeing

DECIPHer – Whole School Approach to Emotional and Mental Wellbeing

Centre link: https://decipher.uk.net

  • Long-term partnership with Welsh Government and Public Health Wales.
  • Includes advisory roles on:
    • WG/PHW Whole School Approach Task Force,
    • A Ministerial evidence gaps report,
    • The WSA Research Workstream, providing direct input to Cabinet-level decision-making.
  • Research has informed recommendations on staff wellbeing, specialist mental health support, and provision in Welsh.

 

WISERD/Administrative Data Research Wales

https://www.adruk.org/about-us/our-partnership/adr-wales/

·      Long-term collaborative partnership with Welsh Government

·      ESRC funded activity to maximise the utility of anonymous and secure data to shape public service delivery, which will ultimately improve the lives of people in Wales.

·      Cardiff University programmes of work are on: (a) Education; (b) Employability and Skills; (c) Homelessness

  1. Economic Development, Innovation & Regional Growth

WERU – Welsh Economy Research Unit

Centre link: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/welsh-economy-research-unit
Extensive portfolio of public‑sector economic analysis, including:

Cardiff Capital Region (CCR)

  • Gateway Review of support to the Compound Semiconductor Foundry.
  • Innovation Scorecard for Welsh local authority areas (with The Productivity Institute).
  • Contribution to CCR’s Ten‑Year Review and future strategic planning.

Welsh Government

  • Digital Maturity Survey for Welsh manufacturing.
  • Business case work for Transport for Wales.
  • Research for the Tidal Lagoon Challenge on equity and ownership models.
  • Economic evaluation of Business Wales and Social Business Wales.
  • Impact of digital technologies in the legal sector.
  • Economic Intelligence Wales SME finance analysis and Covid‑19 interventions evaluation.
  • Rural 5G pilot analysis for DCMS.

 

CIPR – Centre for Innovation Policy Research

Centre link: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/centre-for-innovation-policy-research

  • Designed and delivered the CCR Challenge Fund, working closely with multiple local authorities.
  • Previously advised Carmarthenshire Council on the development of their innovation strategy.
  • Recently supported Cardiff Council on housing retrofit strategy and market-shaping.

  1. Governance, Public Policy & Evidence Use

WCPP – Wales Centre for Public Policy

Centre link: https://www.wcpp.org.uk

  • Long-term, flagship partnership with Welsh Government, providing Ministers and senior officials with rapid evidence synthesis and research support.
  • Supports Public Services Boards (PSBs) with wellbeing assessments and analytical work.
  • Collaborative projects with:
    • Swansea Council on poverty stigma,
    • Cardiff Council on housing retrofit policy.
  • Most SPARK research centres engage with WCPP through co‑produced evidence work.

 

  1. Crime, Safety & Justice

Security, Crime and Intelligence Innovation Institute (SCIII) Wales Safeguarding Repository

Centre link: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/security-crime-intelligence-innovation-institute

  • Collaboration between Cardiff University and Welsh Government since 2019.
  • Developed the national Wales Safeguarding Repository, used by practitioners to access consistent safeguarding information.
  • A major impact case study for both Schools and a national exemplar of applied social science.

More info:
https://www.gov.wales/accessing-wales-safeguarding-repository

 

Conclusion

Across SPARK, these partnerships demonstrate a distinctive model of embedded, collaborative, impact‑oriented social science, characterised by:

  • Long-term partnerships with government and public bodies.
  • Direct influence on policy and service design.
  • Applied research that addresses real-world challenges.
  • Building analytical and research capacity within the public sector.
  • Connecting academic expertise to practical decision-making.

These exemplars collectively capture SPARK’s mission: to create transformative public impact through collaborative social science.