{"id":277,"date":"2026-05-27T11:49:46","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T11:49:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/spark\/?p=277"},"modified":"2026-05-27T12:12:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T12:12:08","slug":"from-evidence-to-action-sparks-public-sector-partnerships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/spark\/from-evidence-to-action-sparks-public-sector-partnerships\/","title":{"rendered":"From Evidence to Action: SPARK\u2019s Public Sector Partnerships"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">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\u00a0local authorities,\u00a0Welsh Government, and the\u00a0wider public sector, enabling research to translate directly into better decision\u2011making, improved services, and lasting social impact. It is also critical for us to work with third sector organisations \u2013 many of whom are (new) frontline service providers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">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)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<h3><strong> Health, Wellbeing &amp; Social Care<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<table style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"649\"><strong>Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP\/Decipher collaboration on NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) \u2013 Rhondda Cynon Taf<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Centre link:<\/em>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/wcpp.org.uk\/news\/wcpp-to-co-lead-5-million-project-to-reduce-health-inequality\/\">https:\/\/wcpp.org.uk\/news\/wcpp-to-co-lead-5-million-project-to-reduce-health-inequality\/<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Collaboration between\u00a0RCT Council,\u00a0Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board,\u00a0Public Health Wales, and Cardiff University researchers affiliated to SPARK.<\/li>\n<li>Aims to\u00a0embed evidence use within local government\u00a0and build research capacity.<\/li>\n<li>SPARK researchers (including Prof Frances Rice) contribute to research design, data analysis and strategic support.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>More info:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nihr.ac.uk\/about-us\/what-we-do\/core-workstreams\/working-with-partners\/local-authorities\/health-determinants-research-collaborations\">https:\/\/www.nihr.ac.uk\/about-us\/what-we-do\/core-workstreams\/working-with-partners\/local-authorities\/health-determinants-research-collaborations<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"649\"><strong>CASCADE \u2013 Children\u2019s Social Care Collaborations<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Centre link:<\/em>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cardiff.ac.uk\/cascade\">https:\/\/www.cardiff.ac.uk\/cascade<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Family VOICE Programme: collaboration with\u00a015 local authorities\u00a0across the UK to gather family group conference data and provide LA\u2011specific feedback reports.<\/li>\n<li>Additional NIHR-funded study with\u00a0five contributing LAs\u00a0(via the Department for Education) linking social care records to national datasets to evaluate long-term outcomes using quasi\u2011experimental designs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"649\"><strong>Centre for Adult Social Care Research (CARE) OMESH Study \u2013 Older Men\u2019s Experiences of Hoarding<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Centre link:<\/em>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/careresearchwales.org\/\">https:\/\/careresearchwales.org<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>NIHR-funded, two-year programme delivered in collaboration with\u00a0four Welsh local authorities.<\/li>\n<li>Seeks to understand engagement with local authority services and improve social care responses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"649\"><strong>Centre for Adult Social Care Research (CARE) Carers\u2019 Needs Assessment Research (2026 onwards)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Led by Dr Jeremy Dixon, working with\u00a0Blaenau Gwent, Gwynedd, Neath Port Talbot, and Torfaen councils\u00a0on new approaches to carers&#8217; assessments.<\/li>\n<li>Currently in contracting stages; collaboration due to commence 2026.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<h3><strong> Education, Mental Health &amp; Children\u2019s Wellbeing<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<table style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"649\"><strong>DECIPHer \u2013 Whole School Approach to Emotional and Mental Wellbeing<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Centre link:<\/em>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/decipher.uk.net\/\">https:\/\/decipher.uk.net<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Long-term partnership with\u00a0Welsh Government\u00a0and\u00a0Public Health Wales.<\/li>\n<li>Includes advisory roles on:\n<ul>\n<li>WG\/PHW\u00a0Whole School Approach Task Force,<\/li>\n<li>A\u00a0Ministerial evidence gaps report,<\/li>\n<li>The\u00a0WSA Research Workstream, providing direct input to Cabinet-level decision-making.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Research has informed recommendations on staff wellbeing, specialist mental health support, and provision in Welsh.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<table style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"649\"><strong>WISERD\/Administrative Data Research Wales<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adruk.org\/about-us\/our-partnership\/adr-wales\/\">https:\/\/www.adruk.org\/about-us\/our-partnership\/adr-wales\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Long-term collaborative partnership with Welsh Government<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cardiff University programmes of work are on: (a) Education; (b) Employability and Skills; (c) Homelessness<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<h3><strong> Economic Development, Innovation &amp; Regional Growth<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<table style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"649\"><strong>WERU \u2013 Welsh Economy Research Unit<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Centre link:<\/em>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cardiff.ac.uk\/welsh-economy-research-unit\">https:\/\/www.cardiff.ac.uk\/welsh-economy-research-unit<\/a><br \/>\nExtensive portfolio of public\u2011sector economic analysis, including:<\/p>\n<p>Cardiff Capital Region (CCR)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Gateway Review of support to the\u00a0Compound Semiconductor Foundry.<\/li>\n<li>Innovation Scorecard\u00a0for Welsh local authority areas (with The Productivity Institute).<\/li>\n<li>Contribution to\u00a0CCR\u2019s Ten\u2011Year Review\u00a0and future strategic planning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Welsh Government<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Digital Maturity Survey for Welsh manufacturing.<\/li>\n<li>Business case work for\u00a0Transport for Wales.<\/li>\n<li>Research for the\u00a0Tidal Lagoon Challenge\u00a0on equity and ownership models.<\/li>\n<li>Economic evaluation of\u00a0Business Wales\u00a0and\u00a0Social Business Wales.<\/li>\n<li>Impact of digital technologies in the legal sector.<\/li>\n<li>Economic Intelligence Wales\u00a0SME finance analysis and Covid\u201119 interventions evaluation.<\/li>\n<li>Rural 5G pilot analysis for DCMS.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<table style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"649\"><strong>CIPR \u2013 Centre for Innovation Policy Research<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Centre link:<\/em>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cardiff.ac.uk\/centre-for-innovation-policy-research\">https:\/\/www.cardiff.ac.uk\/centre-for-innovation-policy-research<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Designed and delivered the\u00a0CCR Challenge Fund, working closely with multiple local authorities.<\/li>\n<li>Previously advised\u00a0Carmarthenshire Council\u00a0on the development of their innovation strategy.<\/li>\n<li>Recently supported\u00a0Cardiff Council\u00a0on housing retrofit strategy and market-shaping.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<h3><strong> Governance, Public Policy &amp; Evidence Use<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<table style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"649\"><strong>WCPP \u2013 Wales Centre for Public Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Centre link:<\/em>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcpp.org.uk\/\">https:\/\/www.wcpp.org.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Long-term, flagship partnership with\u00a0Welsh Government, providing Ministers and senior officials with rapid evidence synthesis and research support.<\/li>\n<li>Supports\u00a0Public Services Boards\u00a0(PSBs) with wellbeing assessments and analytical work.<\/li>\n<li>Collaborative projects with:\n<ul>\n<li>Swansea Council\u00a0on poverty stigma,<\/li>\n<li>Cardiff Council\u00a0on housing retrofit policy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Most SPARK research centres engage with WCPP through co\u2011produced evidence work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<h3><strong> Crime, Safety &amp; Justice<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<table style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"649\"><strong>Security, Crime and Intelligence Innovation Institute (SCIII) Wales Safeguarding Repository<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Centre link:<\/em>\u00a0https:\/\/www.cardiff.ac.uk\/security-crime-intelligence-innovation-institute<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Collaboration between\u00a0Cardiff University and\u00a0Welsh Government\u00a0since 2019.<\/li>\n<li>Developed the national\u00a0Wales Safeguarding Repository, used by practitioners to access consistent safeguarding information.<\/li>\n<li>A major impact case study for both Schools and a national exemplar of applied social science.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>More info:<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.wales\/accessing-wales-safeguarding-repository\">https:\/\/www.gov.wales\/accessing-wales-safeguarding-repository<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Across SPARK, these partnerships demonstrate a distinctive model of\u00a0embedded, collaborative, impact\u2011oriented social science, characterised by:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<li>Long-term partnerships with government and public bodies.<\/li>\n<li>Direct influence on policy and service design.<\/li>\n<li>Applied research that addresses real-world challenges.<\/li>\n<li>Building analytical and research capacity within the public sector.<\/li>\n<li>Connecting academic expertise to practical decision-making.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">These exemplars collectively capture SPARK\u2019s mission: to create transformative public impact through collaborative social science.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"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 [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":6833,"featured_media":281,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"lang":"en","translations":{"en":277,"cy":285},"meta_box":[],"pll_sync_post":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6833"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=277"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":284,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277\/revisions\/284"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/281"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}