LIDA Seminar Series 25th February 2021
- Date
- Thursday 25 February 2021, 12pm - 1pm
- Category
- LIDA Seminar
Click here to watch this seminar
Presentation 1: Healthy Choices, Healthy Lives – Mapping the accessibility of food outlets in Holme Wood
By: Tom Albone
Abstract: This project is part of the Act Early: Holme Wood initiative funded by UKPRP and the Alan Turing Institute. We aim to use data science to improve collective understanding of place by supporting strengthening of the community and growth by ‘acting together’. Some of the concerns raised by the community were a perceived lack of access to affordable and healthy food within the local area. Healthy Choices, Healthy Lives seeks to understand the barriers to and/or drivers of a healthy lifestyle in one of Bradford’s most deprived areas through combining a range of existing open access and commercial data sources. One of the key questions is why are food outlets that offer a greater potential for healthier choices and community interventions less accessible? Another is how can data science techniques be used to identify these problems and model potential solutions?
There are several strands to the project through which these goals will be achieved:
- Mapping and spatial analysis of the local food and activity environment. Existing open access datasets will be used for exploratory data analysis.
- Identifying barriers to accessibility if any exist and using this to model the optimal location for fresh food outlets.
- Comparison of Holme Wood with other areas to identify whether lessons can be shared and transferred to other areas.
- Development of an interactive tool for local policy makers and community organisations to support decision-making relating to the food environment.
- Engagement with the local community to promote empowerment and confidence with intervention strategies.
This project will generate impact through providing new insights and a new tool to support decision making in Holme Wood Bradford. This will also provide a platform to build upon in other geographical areas that require similar support.
Presentation 2: Mental ill health epidemic: assessing the impact of poor mental health on individuals, the community and services
By: Maike Gatzlaff
Abstract: Mental health issues are prevalent within the Bradford District, with a mental ill health epidemic affecting children and young people (CYP). Mental health support has been identified as a top priority by community stakeholders in the Holme Wood area of the District. These stakeholders report a range of issues including problems with accessibility to support, fragmented and poorly coordinated services, and insufficient resources. Stakeholders suggest the focus is on crisis management rather than early intervention. There is general recognition across the system that tackling these issues will result in better outcomes at the individual and community level, and could potentially offer savings in health, social care and policing costs. Thus, long-term solutions are needed in order to improve mental health support.
This project aims to better understand gaps in mental health provisions available to the Bradford District and Holme Wood by: (i) mapping mental health inequalities and service accessibility and (ii) interrogating datasets (e.g. the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children and Born in Bradford) to better understand factors (e.g. alcohol and drug use) that influence mental health in CYP. Interactive maps will be used to aid in communication with policymakers, service providers, and local residents. The goal is to enable evidence-based policymaking and use data science to inform possible interventions that can improve mental health on the Holme Wood estate.
Presentation 3: Spatial Analysis of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bradford Metropolitan District
By: Harry Tata
Abstract: The metropolitan district of Bradford has been one of the hardest-hit areas of the country throughout the coronavirus pandemic, in terms of community transmission and strain on medical infrastructure. To identify vulnerabilities and advise policy, there is an ongoing effort by the COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Group at the Bradford Institute of Health Research to build a detailed local understanding of the pandemic and its repercussions. This talk presents a descriptive analysis of the dynamics of infections within the district, with a focus on characterising the spatial pattern of cases at different stages of the pandemic.
If you wish to ask the presenters any questions or offer feedback, please email LIDA