How can Census data help Northern Ireland?
The 2021 Census in NI has the potential to identify underrepresented, vulnerable, and disadvantaged groups within the NI population. This unique population data resource has the potential to make visible, and accessible, many of society’s most vulnerable, in a way that few other data resources can.
Voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations who advocate, support, and actively care for these populations are extremely well placed to know what to ask of this data and, more importantly, to realise the full potential of whatever the data reveals.
The Engage, Inform, & Train Project
Approaching the release of the NI Census 2021 data, researchers from Ulster University, Queen’s University Belfast, the Administrative Data Research Centre in NI (ADRC NI), and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) are working to develop a suite of resources and research engagement, awareness, and training workshops based on the 2021 Census.
The goal of this project is to stimulate meaningful collaboration between NI researchers and VCSE organisations for the benefit of vulnerable populations nationwide. It aims to use ‘the people’s data’ to build research awareness, knowledge, and capacity, as well as ensuring that NI’s most vulnerable can be seen and heard.
How can VCSE organisations use Census data?
Using Census 2021 data, VCSE organisations would be able to identify their target populations and profile their socio-demographic and other characteristics to better understand their needs/challenges and properly allocate resources for maximum benefit.
The research team is partnering with Parenting Focus NI and Carers NI in two ‘flagship’ projects to explore the value of NI Census data in vulnerable populations. Based on these projects, the team will then develop training resources designed to facilitate wider Census-based research and increased researcher/VCSE collaborations in NI.
How can researchers and VCSE organisations in NI get involved with this project?
In the coming year, the research team will be hosting a series of Census 2021 research awareness and engagement-building workshops for VCSE organisations, informed by the ‘flagship' projects. A series of data/analysis training workshops for researchers are also planned to demonstrate how Census data can be accessed in NI and used to produce impactful, population-based research.
If you are part of a VCSE organisation in NI or a NI-based researcher and you’re interested in working with Census 2021 data, watch this space for news and updates!
Partners
