The City Observatory has worked with the <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/" target="_blank">University of Birmingham</a> to develop an Exploring sport infrastructure in Birmingham dashboard. See details of the project below as described by the Project Lead: Dr Shushu Chen, Associate Professor in Sport Policy and Management, University of Birmingham:

&nbsp;

<a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZjFmZDUzOGUtZjNiYy00NTAyLWExMDYtZjQ3NWY3YmVmNjAxIiwidCI6IjY5OWFjZTY3LWQyZTQtNGJjZC1iMzAzLWQyYmJlMmI5YmJmMSJ9" target="_blank">The dashboard</a> is an output of a research project, a collaboration between the <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/" target="_blank">University of Birmingham</a> and <a href="https://www.wearebrig.co.uk/" target="_blank">Birmingham Race Impact Group</a>, funded by the British Academy, developed by Birmingham City Observatory. It offers a detailed visualisation of sports infrastructures, health outcomes, and various demographic features in Birmingham, broken down at the ward level.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZjFmZDUzOGUtZjNiYy00NTAyLWExMDYtZjQ3NWY3YmVmNjAxIiwidCI6IjY5OWFjZTY3LWQyZTQtNGJjZC1iMzAzLWQyYmJlMmI5YmJmMSJ9" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2024-04-18-104158.338865Front-page.png" style="width: 600px; height: 336px;" /></a>

&nbsp;

The purpose behind this dashboard was to craft a detailed, interactive visualisation of Birmingham&#39;s sports infrastructure. This tool not only highlights the critical intersection between sports facility availability, health outcomes, and demographic specifics at the ward level but also aims to deliver substantial practical benefits across a wide spectrum of applications.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZjFmZDUzOGUtZjNiYy00NTAyLWExMDYtZjQ3NWY3YmVmNjAxIiwidCI6IjY5OWFjZTY3LWQyZTQtNGJjZC1iMzAzLWQyYmJlMmI5YmJmMSJ9" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2024-04-18-104234.542638UoB-Deprivation.png" style="width: 600px; height: 338px;" /></a>

&nbsp;

Intended for a diverse audience including Birmingham residents, sports clubs, community-based organisations, and policymakers, the dashboard is designed to:

&nbsp;

* Increase public awareness about the availability of sports facilities, thereby encouraging greater participation from underrepresented communities.

* Enable precise, targeted investments in sports facilities to areas of greatest need.

* Support the formulation of evidence-based policies to ensure equitable access to these facilities.

* Facilitate community-led initiatives and foster partnerships among local sports clubs, community groups, and health services, promoting a collaborative effort towards better health through sport.

&nbsp;

Working with the City Observatory was an absolute delight. From the outset, the professionalism displayed by the team was exemplary. They not only comprehensively addressed our requirements for the dashboard but also offered valuable insights and suggestions, adding significant depth and utility to the project. It was a pleasure to collaborate with such a high-caliber team, whose expertise and dedication greatly exceeded our expectations.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZjFmZDUzOGUtZjNiYy00NTAyLWExMDYtZjQ3NWY3YmVmNjAxIiwidCI6IjY5OWFjZTY3LWQyZTQtNGJjZC1iMzAzLWQyYmJlMmI5YmJmMSJ9" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2024-04-18-104324.324849UoB-Education.png" style="width: 600px; height: 337px;" /></a>

&nbsp;

Please use the following for citation: <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/" target="_blank">University of Birmingham</a>, <a href="https://www.wearebrig.co.uk/" target="_blank">Birmingham Race Impact Group</a>, <a href="https://www.cityobservatory.birmingham.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Birmingham City Observatory (2024)</a>. <a href="http://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZjFmZDUzOGUtZjNiYy00NTAyLWExMDYtZjQ3NWY3YmVmNjAxIiwidCI6IjY5OWFjZTY3LWQyZTQtNGJjZC1iMzAzLWQyYmJlMmI5YmJmMSJ9" target="_blank">Birmingham Sports Dashboard</a>. Open Access:&nbsp;<a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZjFmZDUzOGUtZjNiYy00NTAyLWExMDYtZjQ3NWY3YmVmNjAxIiwidCI6IjY5OWFjZTY3LWQyZTQtNGJjZC1iMzAzLWQyYmJlMmI5YmJmMSJ9" target="_blank">Exploring Sport Infrastructure in Birmingham Dashboard</a>.

&nbsp;

Feedback: We would love to hear from you if you have any feedback for the dashboard, if you are interested in finding out more about this project, or if you have used this dashboard as evidence for a project, funding bid, etc. Contact us: <a href="mailto:major.event.legacy@contacts.bham.ac.uk?subject=Exploring%20Sports%20Dashboard">major.event.legacy@contacts.bham.ac.uk</a>&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Author:&nbsp;Dr Shushu Chen, Associate Professor in Sport Policy and Management, University of Birmingham.

partner-insight-university-of-birmingham-exploring-sports-infrastructure

Partner Insight: University of Birmingham - Exploring Sports Infrastructure

We have undertaken in-depth analyses of local data to better understand two health outcomes for Birmingham residents. In two separate pieces of work, we have looked at what increases the risk of i) diabetes and ii) adverse pregnancy outcomes. Rates for both of these outcomes are higher in Birmingham than across England:

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Diabetes prevalence in Birmingham has been steadily rising over the past decade, mirroring the trend observed across England. However, the rate in Birmingham has been consistently higher than the national average. </li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:11px; margin-left:8px">Adverse pregnancy outcomes include infant mortality (baby dying in 1st year of life), low birth weight and premature birth and the rates for these are all higher in Birmingham than the national average. </li>
</ul>

We have been working to determine which factors increase a person&rsquo;s risk of these two outcomes. Our statistical analysis is summarised in the following two posters which can be viewed in full using the links:

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://www.cityobservatory.birmingham.gov.uk/@birmingham-city-council/analysing-diabetes-deprivation-and-ethnicity-among-nhs-health-check-attendees-in-birmingham" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">Risk factors for diabetes in the population of patients attending NHS Health Checks in Birmingham</a></li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:11px; margin-left:8px"><a href="https://www.cityobservatory.birmingham.gov.uk/@birmingham-city-council/wider-determinants-of-birth-outcomes-in-birmingham-and-solihull" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">The Impact of Wider Determinant Factors on Birth Outcomes in Birmingham and Solihull</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </li>
</ul>

<a href="https://www.cityobservatory.birmingham.gov.uk/@birmingham-city-council/wider-determinants-of-birth-outcomes-in-birmingham-and-solihull" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2024-03-27-152639.428088Picture1.png" style="width: 200px; height: 283px;" /></a><a href="https://www.cityobservatory.birmingham.gov.uk/@birmingham-city-council/analysing-diabetes-deprivation-and-ethnicity-among-nhs-health-check-attendees-in-birmingham" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2024-03-27-152658.701196Picture2.png" style="width: 200px; height: 283px;" /></a>

Our work highlights stark health inequalities in these outcomes. Those living in the most economically deprived areas and those from the global majority (also called ethnic minority groups) are significantly more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and are also more likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcomes. For example, Black Caribbean mothers had twice the odds of stillbirth compared to White mothers. &nbsp;

For those who are both from the global majority and living in the most deprived areas, the situation is even worse. For example, we found that in the last 5 years, patients of Asian ethnicity living in the most deprived areas had a 10 fold relative risk of diabetic blood glucose level than patients of White ethnicity living in the least deprived areas. 

This work will play a central role in helping Birmingham Public Health, our partner organisations and communities to understand and address the causes of these outcomes and inequalities. It is therefore important to share these results as widely as possible. That&rsquo;s why we were proud to present these posters at the <a href="https://uobevents.eventsair.com/haca-2023/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Health and Care Analytics Conference 2023</a>. 

Our full analysis for both these projects is currently being written up for publication. 

We would like to thank the Birmingham and Solihull United Maternity and Newborn Partnership (BUMP) and the Midlands and Lancashire Clinical Support Unit (MLCSU) for providing their data and expertise that made these projects possible. 

Author: David Ellis and Chung Au-Yeung, Population Health Management team, Public Health, Birmingham City Council.

developing-our-understanding-of-risk-factors-for-diabetes-and-birth-outcomes-in-birmingham

Developing Our Understanding of Risk Factors for Diabetes and Birth Outcomes In Birmingham

We are pleased to introduce the <a href="https://www.cityobservatory.birmingham.gov.uk/@birmingham-city-council/joint-strategic-needs-assessment-jsna" target="_blank">Children and Young People JSNA dashboards</a>.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

These dashboards, together with summary documents, present a comprehensive overview of the health and wellbeing, including the protective and risk factors, of children and young people in Birmingham.&nbsp;

<img alt="" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2024-02-02-153050.714349Screenshot-2024-02-02-153019.png" style="width: 600px; height: 436px;" />

The purpose of <a href="https://www.cityobservatory.birmingham.gov.uk/@birmingham-city-council/joint-strategic-needs-assessment-jsna" target="_blank">these dashboards</a> is to support evidence-led decision making in the city. Here we outline the structure of the information to help you explore the content.

&nbsp;

These dashboards sit alongside the working age adult dashboard and older adult dashboard and summary that have been previously published, as well as the more in-depth profiles and deep dives that together make up the JSNA for Birmingham.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

We very much hope that you find the products useful. If you have any feedback please contact <a href="mailto:publichealthintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk">publichealthintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk</a>

&nbsp;

Children and Young people dashboards and reports&nbsp; 
There are five dashboards, each with a pdf summary. These are: 
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Children and young people: Conception to Birth (<a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiOTgxN2NlMzItMDk5NC00NjZlLThkNjgtODQwMzRmZDhjYTU4IiwidCI6IjY5OWFjZTY3LWQyZTQtNGJjZC1iMzAzLWQyYmJlMmI5YmJmMSJ9" target="_blank">dashboard</a> / <a href="https://www.cityobservatory.birmingham.gov.uk/@birmingham-city-council/joint-strategic-needs-assessment-jsna/r/Birmingham%20Conception%20to%20Birth%20Summary.pdf" target="_blank">summary</a>)&nbsp; 
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Children and young people: Starting Well (0-5y) (<a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZWU3ZDEzZDUtZGMyMy00Y2QyLTk5MTUtMzdhODNkMzQ4MzViIiwidCI6IjY5OWFjZTY3LWQyZTQtNGJjZC1iMzAzLWQyYmJlMmI5YmJmMSJ9" target="_blank">dashboard</a> / <a href="https://www.cityobservatory.birmingham.gov.uk/@birmingham-city-council/joint-strategic-needs-assessment-jsna/r/Birmingham%20Starting%20Well%20Summary.pdf" target="_blank">summary</a>) 
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Children and young people: School Years (<a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiMTVmOTQwYjQtOTA3Ni00Yjk5LWE4YjctYmMwM2Q0NjI2OTZjIiwidCI6IjY5OWFjZTY3LWQyZTQtNGJjZC1iMzAzLWQyYmJlMmI5YmJmMSJ9" target="_blank">dashboard</a> / <a href="https://www.cityobservatory.birmingham.gov.uk/@birmingham-city-council/joint-strategic-needs-assessment-jsna/r/Birmingham%20School%20Years%20Summary.pdf" target="_blank">summary</a>) 
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Children and young people: Vulnerabilities (<a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiYTIwNTgxNWMtN2U3Mi00MWU1LTg5ZDktNjdkOGMxMDNkMjE1IiwidCI6IjY5OWFjZTY3LWQyZTQtNGJjZC1iMzAzLWQyYmJlMmI5YmJmMSJ9" target="_blank">dashboard</a> / <a href="https://www.cityobservatory.birmingham.gov.uk/@birmingham-city-council/joint-strategic-needs-assessment-jsna/r/Birmingham%20Vulnerabilities%20Summary.pdf" target="_blank">summary</a>) 
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Children and young people: Older Teenagers and Young Adults (publication pending)

&nbsp;

The dashboards are interactive and tips on navigating the content can be found on the navigation pane in each dashboard.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Each dashboard provides a detailed overview of key indicators, bringing together data that is publicly available alongside local data and added local interpretation and context.

&nbsp;

The summary pdf document provides an overview of the information contained in the dashboard. These aim to provide a simple and quick way to understand the key information.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<h3>Background to the JSNA</h3>

Birmingham City Council has a statutory duty, through the Health and Wellbeing Board, to produce the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Overall, the JSNA is an assessment of the current and future health and social care needs of the people of Birmingham; to inform local organisations enabling them to plan services for the future, including informing the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The JSNA has been developed by Public Health but very much in partnership through the JSNA Steering Committee which includes Adults Social Care, Birmingham Childrens Trust, Children and Families Directorate and relevant wider Public Health and Council Teams as well as Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board and voluntary sector representation.

&nbsp;

Author:&nbsp;Jenny Riley - Service Lead (Knowledge) - Partnership, Insight and Prevention

birmingham-joint-strategic-needs-assessment-jsna-dashboards-children-and-young-people

Birmingham Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) Dashboards: Children and Young People

The Birmingham City Observatory provides data and insight for our city &ndash; a single source&nbsp;of truth to support collaboration and innovation among partners across and beyond our city.

In May 2023, we launched Ward Profiles which combined data from a wide range of sources to provide detail about a range of topics, such as population demographics, unemployment, deprivation, location of warm welcome and foodbanks, housing, health, and education. This analysis provides up-to-date, fine granular detail, about our wards and neighbourhoods. &nbsp;

Councillors, partners, charities, and citizens across the city are utilising these profiles to drive&nbsp;data informed decisions and help shape the lives of Birmingham citizens.

Today, we are thrilled to unveil the&nbsp;next evolution in this endeavour&nbsp;&ndash; <a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZTkxMjVlMjMtODhhNi00NTM5LTgzOGUtOThkNDEwMTAwY2FmIiwidCI6IjY5OWFjZTY3LWQyZTQtNGJjZC1iMzAzLWQyYmJlMmI5YmJmMSJ9" target="_blank">Birmingham Area&nbsp;and Ward Profiles.</a>

<a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZTkxMjVlMjMtODhhNi00NTM5LTgzOGUtOThkNDEwMTAwY2FmIiwidCI6IjY5OWFjZTY3LWQyZTQtNGJjZC1iMzAzLWQyYmJlMmI5YmJmMSJ9" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot showing the landing page for the new area profiles" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2023-11-01-123045.807553Screenshot-2023-09-22-153421.png" style="width: 600px; height: 337px;" /></a>

Let&#39;s explore what&#39;s new:

<h2 class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin-bottom: 16px;">1. One ward, two wards, three wards, more!</h2>

Our online, interactive profiles have been a great tool for comparing different wards, but we always felt we could take it a step further. That is why we have&nbsp;introduced the ability to select any combination of wards or entire areas such as East or West Birmingham. 

On the front page, you can search for your desired ward and simply select it to build a profile of your chosen area. It is that easy! You can also&nbsp;switch between wards&nbsp;or areas effortlessly by using the&nbsp;area selector&nbsp;at the top of every page. And if you would like to select multiple wards to create your own area profile, just hold down the&nbsp;CTRL&nbsp;key while clicking on your choices. This streamlines the process of building a picture of an area, saving you time and resources.

<img alt="New selection tool to make multiple ward selections" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2023-10-30-103052.676577Screenshot-2023-09-22-154041.png" style="width: 316px; height: 259px;" />

&nbsp;

<h2 class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin-bottom: 16px;">2. Postcode Lookup Tool</h2>

To make it even more convenient, we have added a Postcode Lookup tool on the front page. If you are unsure about your ward or area, simply enter your postcode (without spaces) into the popup, and we will provide the information you need.

<img alt="Postcode search tool" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2023-09-25-103523.090801Screenshot-2023-09-25-092702.png" style="width: 455px; height: 536px;" />

&nbsp;

<h2 class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin-bottom: 16px;">3. More unemployment data and narrative</h2>

Previously, our unemployment benefit data only covered 12 months. Now, we have extended the charts to include&nbsp;48 months of data. Vertical markers have also been added to highlight key points in time, such as COVID lockdowns and business reopening. This visual representation helps you understand the fluctuations at a glance, emphasizing the ongoing impact of COVID on Birmingham and its wards. Powered by <a href="https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/ucjsa" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Nomis</a> data, this feature is automatically updated monthly as the new data is released.

<img alt="Graph showing unemployment in the selected area" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2023-09-25-103540.125597Screenshot-2023-09-22-155744.png" style="width: 600px; height: 259px;" />

&nbsp;

<h2 class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin-bottom: 16px;">4. Take a peek into the housing team window with real-time insights</h2>

In the top right corner of every page, you&#39;ll find a card displaying the last time the data for that particular page was updated. 

<img alt="Image showing the last time the chosen dataset was updated" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2023-09-25-103617.648211Screenshot-2023-09-22-155721.png" style="width: 600px; height: 113px;" />

&nbsp;

Some may show a date more recent than others. One such dataset is that from our colleagues in our housing team that powers the Council Owned Housing Stock and Council Owned Sheltered Housing pages.

We have transitioned from annual internal data updates to real-time data from our housing team, provided weekly through a new Power BI dataflow. As a result, the Area Profiles are now updated every week&nbsp;with the exact same data available to our housing team, ensuring you always have the most up-to-date council owned housing information at your fingertips. Stay tuned for more real-time updates across the report.

&nbsp;

<h2 class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin-bottom: 16px;">5. A Fresh Look and Now Even More Accessible</h2>

We have given the entire report a makeover in line with our Be Bold branding, led by our award-winning marketing team. This transformation also includes visual enhancements and a complete re-think of the tab order to dramatically improve accessibility.

&nbsp;

<h2 class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin-bottom: 16px;">6. Continuous Improvements</h2>

For a detailed list of changes with each update, visit the Help &amp; Support page within the report to peruse the full Release Notes.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZTkxMjVlMjMtODhhNi00NTM5LTgzOGUtOThkNDEwMTAwY2FmIiwidCI6IjY5OWFjZTY3LWQyZTQtNGJjZC1iMzAzLWQyYmJlMmI5YmJmMSJ9" target="_blank">Click here to view our new Birmingham Area and Ward Profiles!</a>

<h2 class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin-bottom: 16px;">Your Feedback Shapes the Future</h2>

We trust that you will find even more value in the latest generation of Area and Ward&nbsp;Profiles. Nevertheless, we are always eager to hear your feedback. If you have questions, thoughts, or comments, please do not hesitate to email us at <a href="mailto:cityobservatory@birmingham.gov.uk?subject=Area%20Profiles%20Blog%20Post%20Feedback">cityobservatory@birmingham.gov.uk</a>. We are committed to regularly updating the profiles with additional suggestions and datasets to better serve you. Together, we can continue to make data-driven decisions that positively impact our city and its residents.

&nbsp;

Author: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-oneill/" target="_blank">Danny O&#39;Neill</a> - Birmingham City Observatory

introducing-area-profiles-empowering-data-driven-decisions

Introducing Area and Ward Profiles: Empowering data-driven decisions

We have created an insightful housing product on the City Observatory - the <a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiY2M4MDY4MmItMGNkZC00NmNmLWJjOTgtNTY3M2RjZDhiNzA5IiwidCI6IjY5OWFjZTY3LWQyZTQtNGJjZC1iMzAzLWQyYmJlMmI5YmJmMSJ9" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Housing Briefing Book</a>. The Housing Briefing book brings together data that is internally held, as well as external sources to provide a rich understanding of the housing stock in Birmingham. The internal data that has been provided, updates weekly on this product, bringing you the most up to date insight. The tool allows you to view information on: All Dwellings in Birmingham, Council owned housing stock, Social Housing Lettings, Census 2021 data relevant to Housing, Housing supply, Affordability and Benefits, and Help to Buy.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Further information will be added and released in the briefing book as we work towards building a deeper knowledge base. A summary of what this briefing book outlines through use of data, is outlined below

<a href="app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiY2M4MDY4MmItMGNkZC00NmNmLWJjOTgtNTY3M2RjZDhiNzA5IiwidCI6IjY5OWFjZTY3LWQyZTQtNGJjZC1iMzAzLWQyYmJlMmI5YmJmMSJ9" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2023-09-26-135850.129341Screenshot-2023-09-26-145806.png" style="width: 600px; height: 337px;" /></a>

<h3 style="margin-bottom: 11px;">Drivers for change</h3>

This housing briefing books highlights housing trends for Birmingham, but it&rsquo;s a picture that is mostly replicated nationally. If we use the briefing book to understand housing supply, in the West Midlands housing supplied by local authorities as a percentage of total housing has reduced by 1% over the past decade. In Birmingham it is almost a 2% decrease. The main driver for the reduction of local authority housing is the right to buy scheme, and Birmingham is losing on average around 1% of its stock every year to right to buy sales. As Birmingham has the largest number of stock, it has more right to buy completions than other local authorities but this report shows other authorities such as Manchester and Nottingham are losing higher percentages of stock per year than Birmingham, such is the demand of the right to buy scheme across all authorities.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<h3 style="margin-bottom: 11px;">New build reductions</h3>

<img alt="" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2023-09-26-141830.631075Building-permit-amico.png" style="float: right; width: 200px; height: 200px;" />The building of new, affordable homes for the average English local authority has dropped, from 37% of new builds being affordable ten years ago to 28% now. Birmingham has dropped to 12% of new builds being affordable. The majority of Birmingham City Council&rsquo;s Housing stock is between 45 &ndash; 100 years old, with 2,072 properties built in the last 30 years, showing the difficulties in replenishing stock demolished or sold. The challenge of the right to buy scheme, with the challenge of acquiring or building new properties is ultimately causing the amount of local authority stock to be reduced, a theme that is replicated across England.

&nbsp;

<h3 style="margin-bottom: 11px;">High demand for affordable social housing</h3>

The demand for social or affordable housing in Birmingham is high; with over 20,000 applicants on the waiting list, the majority of which require 2-3 bedrooms for the families. If we look at the housing supply and demand page, it illustrates Birmingham City Council has approximately 3,000 lettings per year, half of which are 1-bedroom properties. This shows the challenges Birmingham City Council has to provide housing for families requiring 3-5 bedroom housing, as these properties are not becoming available to let. The increasing demand for social housing can also be illustrated by the vacant dwellings over time where they have reduced from 1,500 to 500 voids over the last 10 years, which highlights the extra demand from customers as less properties are remaining empty.

&nbsp;

<h3 style="margin-bottom: 11px;">The challenges we face</h3>

<img alt="" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2023-09-26-141809.078023Construction-costs-pana.png" style="float: left; width: 200px; height: 200px;" />The challenges around housing affordability will also create further demands for social housing, since 2010 house prices in Birmingham have increased by over 12%, more than the national average. Annual pay has increased 4.5% higher than the national average but in Birmingham this means that house prices have increased 35% more than pay (26% nationally). The cost-of-living crisis, recent inflationary pressures and the increasing cost of housing mean the demand for social or affordable housing is expected to increase.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Overall, the key challenges Birmingham faces, includes:

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The decrease in local authority housing stock in Birmingham over the past decade, primarily driven by the Right to Buy scheme. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The decline in the building of affordable new homes versus the high demand for affordable homes, expected to increase due to the cost-of-living crisis and other financial challenges. </li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:11px; margin-left:8px">With declining housing stock, this leads to major challenges for Birmingham in being able to provide fit-for-purpose housing, particularly for vulnerable families.</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

To see a full list of what&#39;s new in this version pop over to the&nbsp;Help &amp; Support&nbsp;page within the report and click on the&nbsp;Release Notes button.

The easily accessible and timely data in the Housing Briefing Book can help empower and inform evidence-based decision making, shining a light on key trends impacting on Birmingham housing right now. Please contact us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cityobservatory@birmingham.gov.uk?subject=Housing%20Book%20Blog%20Post%20Feedback" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">cityobservatory@birmingham.gov.uk</a>&nbsp;if you have any feedback on this dashboard.

Author: Carl Wallace, Senior Data Analyst - Housing

<a href="https://storyset.com/people" target="_blank">People illustrations by Storyset</a>

housing-briefing-book-version-2

Housing Briefing Book Version 2

We have just published a new kind of product on the Birmingham City Observatory&nbsp;website. The <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.powerbi.com%2Fview%3Fr%3DeyJrIjoiNjMyYzc1MTMtOGEyYS00OTU4LWEwODAtZDFjNmIzYmVhY2M5IiwidCI6IjY5OWFjZTY3LWQyZTQtNGJjZC1iMzAzLWQyYmJlMmI5YmJmMSJ9&amp;data=05%7C01%7CZoe.K.Wright%40birmingham.gov.uk%7C91453da09e7d437eb7d708db72418751%7C699ace67d2e44bcdb303d2bbe2b9bbf1%7C0%7C0%7C638229397985542617%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=LOayrs7f%2BtJ5tMAe7l6zhGes7HPlPGp8bhsY40uNbIw%3D&amp;reserved=0" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Birmingham Pakistani Community Profile</a>&nbsp;provides new insight into one of our largest communities of identity &ndash; our residents of Pakistani heritage.

&nbsp;

<img alt="Pakistani Community in Birmingham preview" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2023-06-21-130642.651283PakistaniCommunityv2.jpg" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 1px; width: 433px; height: 243px;" />

&nbsp;

Birmingham has the largest Pakistani community of any local authority in England, numbering 195,000 people and accounting for 17% of our residents in 2021. It is a growing population, concentrated in East Birmingham &ndash; our largest area of deprivation in the city. The dashboard allows us to see this population in granular detail, with insight to age, education, employment, and many other factors. It highlights issues such as the large number of young Pakistani people needing skills provision, high numbers with low qualifications, and low employment rates. 

&nbsp;

For the first time, this insight and the underlying data is now available at individual ward and multi-ward level, not just at the scale of the whole city or the constituencies. So you can see the numbers and characteristics of the Pakistani population for the catchment area of a college, or the area served by a healthcare or leisure facility, or affected by an economic or transport development. Or you can look at particular age ranges or genders.

&nbsp;

This is relevant to council services, valuable for our partners, and important for our communities. It allows us and our partners to target our communications and plan services more effectively. It helps shape culturally appropriate provision and promotes community engagement. The information is detailed, public and equally accessible to everyone. 

&nbsp;

In terms of the technology behind this, we are now drawing on a Census data model developed in partnership with Birmingham City University, which allows us to develop dashboards like this far more quickly than ever before. We can go on to create similar insight for many other communities, which can sit alongside and inform products like the existing <a href="https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50265/supporting_healthier_communities/2463/community_health_profiles/9" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">community health profiles</a> and a wide range of strategic needs assessments. 

&nbsp;

<img alt="Community Health Profile preview" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2023-06-21-130958.627835PakistaniCommunityHealthProfilev2.jpg" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 1px; width: 420px; height: 282px;" />

&nbsp;

We hope this work will help inform our decisions, improve our performance, and drive change across the city. Please don&rsquo;t hesitate to share it, and please contact us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cityobservatory@birmingham.gov.uk" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">cityobservatory@birmingham.gov.uk</a>&nbsp;if you can see improvements or changes that would help increase its impact.&nbsp;The City Observatory Team now has many other initiatives underway with city partners and colleagues across the council, and is always keen to engage, demonstrate and develop further tools to drive positive change.

&nbsp;

Author: Richard Brooks

birmingham-pakistani-community-profile

Birmingham Pakistani Community Profile

developing-the-birmingham-data-charter

Developing the Birmingham Data Charter

<img alt="" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2022-12-19-151749.632569Screenshot-20.png" style="width: 581px; height: 272px;" />

&nbsp;

It is almost a month since the launch of the Birmingham City Observatory, and we are now releasing our first new set of data and insights into the Observatory from the 2021 National Census. The Census is a treasure trove of information that can help inform decision making and build a better understanding of our city and region.

&nbsp;

We have created a Birmingham Census Dashboard, which allows you to explore and visualise the data in multiple ways, to see what is changing over time, and to compare us to other places including the other core cities and our West Midlands neighbours. Over the course of 2023 more and more information will be released from the Census, and we will build up our analysis and work with partners to generate insight from the data.

&nbsp;

The dashboard is available here: &nbsp;<a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiNjEwNWIxMTAtNWQwMS00MTE5LThhMWUtZWM5MjMzNTg5MzNhIiwidCI6IjY5OWFjZTY3LWQyZTQtNGJjZC1iMzAzLWQyYmJlMmI5YmJmMSJ9">Census 2021</a>

&nbsp;

We have also published a short topic briefing on ethnicity and religion here: <a href="https://www.cityobservatory.birmingham.gov.uk/@birmingham-city-observatory/census-2021-ethnicity-and-religion/r/Census%202021%20Ethnicity%20and%20Religion%20Highlight%20Briefing">Census 2021 Ethnicity and Religion Analysis</a>

&nbsp;

Some of my highlights:

&nbsp;

-&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;You will have seen the news that Birmingham is now a superdiverse city, with 51% of the population being from Black, Asian or other minority ethnic groups. When you compare ethnicity across the core cites, Birmingham&rsquo;s not only has by far the largest Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic population (51%), but also stands out along with Manchester (43%) and Nottingham (34%) in contrast to the other core cities which still have a large majority White populations. (See page 2 of the dashboard to explore and download the data.)

&nbsp;

-&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;When you compare ethnicity across the West Midlands Combined Authority Area, you can see a high level of diversity across much of the region: Sandwell has the same level of diversity as Manchester (43% Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic pop.) and Wolverhampton is close behind (39%).

&nbsp;

-&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Birmingham is the &lsquo;most religious&rsquo; of all the core cities with 66% of the population professing a religion. The Muslim group in Birmingham is by far the largest of any core city and is now almost the same size (30%) as the Christian group (34%). Liverpool stands out as being particularly Christian (57%).

&nbsp;

-&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;At the regional level, our Sikh population stands out: 3% of Birmingham&rsquo;s population are of this community, and the figure is 11% for neighbouring Sandwell and 12% for Wolverhampton. If you look at the maps on page 4 of the dashboard, select &lsquo;output area&rsquo; and click on a religion or language, you can see in detail where different communities are concentrated. This is important data for many partners planning services, facilities and public engagement.

&nbsp;

-&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Birmingham&rsquo;s overall population has grown from 1.07 to 1.14 million people. However, there has been a fall in the population aged 0-4 years, and the largest growth is in the older age categories. (Page 3 of the dashboard gives you the exact numbers). We are also becoming more densely populated per dwelling: the number of people has increased by 6% but the number of households by only 3%.

&nbsp;

-&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Check out page 5 of the dashboard for detailed information on how people usually travel to work and how far they go (although do note that lockdown measures will have affected answers on this topic). If you select &lsquo;output area&rsquo; you can see in fine detail which parts of the city work from home, use trains, and get on their bicycles. At the time of the 2021 Census, the number of people working mainly from home had jumped up to 26%, and the biggest compensating fall has been in the number driving a car or van.

&nbsp;

As usual, the dashboard is a work in progress, and we want your feedback. What functionality is most important to you? What doesn&rsquo;t work well, what is missing, or wrong, or in your view misleading? What issues and topics would you like to see addressed? And most importantly, what can we do together to enrich and improve the data and make it more valuable and insightful for all of us?

&nbsp;

Please join us on this journey to make the City Observatory a valued and shared resource. We are happy to come and discuss, demonstrate, develop and explore with you. Finally, from myself and all the team at the Birmingham City Observatory, we wish you a peaceful break over Xmas, and a successful and curious new year.

&nbsp;

Author: Richard Brooks

analysis-of-census-2021-data

Analysis of Census 2021 Data 

On Tuesday 22nd November 2022, we proudly launched our Birmingham City Observatory. With thanks to Arcadis our local sponsor, the event took place in Birmingham&rsquo;s tallest office building, 103 Colmore Row, which provided a backdrop to the stunning views of the city and beyond.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The event was opened by Deputy Leader and Councillor Brigid Jones, and Richard Brooks, Director of Strategy, Equalities and Partnerships. Deputy Leader Brigid Jones highlighted the importance of the investment in the City Observatory, by commenting:&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<img alt="View of audience and opening speech by Deputy Leader" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2022-12-05-113838.407523Cllr--Richard-B---Copy.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 161px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 1px; float: left;" />

&quot;This piece of work has been in the pipeline for some time and one which we are excited to be officially launching. Our approach and commitment here is in recognition of the key role that we must play as regional leaders in providing transparency. Through the City Observatory, we want to make inequalities visible, and by making the true pattern of outcomes and performance clear, we will help drive decisions and services in the direction of achieving greater equality.&quot;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<img alt="Richard Brooks speaking at launch event" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2022-12-05-110031.336370Richard-Speaking-3.png" style="width: 200px; height: 267px; float: right; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 1px;" />Richard Brooks who leads the new directorate, outlined the vision for the City Observatory, and expressed:&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&lsquo;&rsquo;Our aims are simple. On the one hand, we want to publish a &lsquo;single source of the truth&rsquo; about Birmingham which provides a better understanding of our people, our city, the key challenges it faces and the opportunities it presents. On the other hand, we want to start a collaborative journey with partners across the city, where we use data together to create value for our diverse communities.&rsquo;&rsquo;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<img alt="Danny O'Neil presenting the platform to the audience" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2022-12-05-110302.778213Danny-Presentation.png" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 1px; float: left; width: 300px; height: 225px;" />In outlining the importance of this being a collaborative journey, numerous stakeholders from across the private, public, and voluntary sector were invited to attend the event and were presented with a live demonstration to the online platform, and the initial set of interactive dashboards which have been developed to demonstrate key data and insights across key thematic areas, such as:&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

- City Outcomes Indicators which link to our City Partnership priorities and Birmingham City Council&rsquo;s strategic objectives;&nbsp;

- Financial resilience of Birmingham&rsquo;s 69 wards against five dimensions: Mosaic demographic segmentation, Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), Fuel Poverty, Benefits and Unemployment, and Children in Financially Vulnerable Households;&nbsp;

- Ward Profiles which bring together data from a wide range of sources to enable a richer understanding of local areas; and

&nbsp;- Homes for Ukraine which provides an insight into the aid delivered to Ukrainian Refugees settling across the city of Birmingham&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

With of course this being a start and with many more sets of data and insights to be published on the platform in line with strategic priority areas, the City Observatory team took the opportunity to ask partners in attendance to share: 1) what they want, 2) what data or insights they could contribute, and 3) how they could benefit from using the City Observatory. Responses brought up some insightful and meaningful responses for the City Observatory team to consider, demonstrated through a word cloud below:&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<img alt="Word Cloud for Feedback Session on Platform" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2022-12-05-111249.847065Word-Cloud.png" style="margin: 1px; width: 700px; height: 280px;" />

In acknowledging the importance of providing access to data and information that is needed to hold city leaders to account, key partner and Associate Professor and Director Rebecca Riley from the City-REDI department at The University of Birmingham, outlined the Data Charter that will underpin the City Observatory platform, to ensure that the data that is published is ethical, and that everyone, regardless whether internal, external or a member of the public, has access to the same information.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The event concluded by inviting a panel of speakers to outline how they plan to collaborate and engage with the City Observatory, and outline what their wants and needs are, as captured below:&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Afzal Hussein &ndash; Chief Officer, Witton Lodge Community Association:&nbsp;&nbsp;

- The data here provides the foundation to the &lsquo;so what&rsquo; questions we need to consider to tackle inequalities in the city&nbsp;

- It is important to drill down into LSOA (Lower Layer Super Output Area) data to understand the issues different areas face&nbsp;

- We need to also look at issues to do with social mobility&nbsp;

- It is important to have the voice of the communities and hear from the voices that are not heard &nbsp;

&nbsp;

David Melbourne - Chief Executive, Birmingham &amp; Solihull Integrated Care Board:&nbsp;

- We need to work together to support broader aims and ambitions linked to social and economic development&nbsp;&nbsp;

- We need to tackle inequalities, improve access to services and enhance our productivity&nbsp;&nbsp;

- I see what is being done here as helping me to do my &lsquo;day job&rsquo;&nbsp;

- There is lots of bureaucracy - we don&rsquo;t tend to talk to each other and work together - we need to look at the health data for the city and that should sit with the city council &nbsp;

&nbsp;

Kalvinder Kohli &ndash; Assistant Director - Early Intervention &amp; Prevention, Birmingham City Council:&nbsp;

- What we are talking about tackling here is &lsquo;infinitely inflexible services&rsquo; - this is the key feedback we get from our citizens&nbsp;

- We need to make sure we are structured internally for this challenge &nbsp;

- Citizens do not fit into &lsquo;neat boxes&rsquo; &ndash; we need to design and target our resources appropriately &nbsp;

- We have best practice all around the city &ndash; let&#39;s learn from it&nbsp;

- There is often a very single view provided about a citizen, we need to work with citizens to deliver outcomes which are multi-faceted&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Rebecca Riley - Associate Professor &amp; Business Development Director, University of Birmingham City-REDI:&nbsp;

- The public sector struggles to get private sector data e.g. business rates. It would be good to tackle this e.g. not just the private sector &lsquo;supplying&rsquo; us with data but information on how they &lsquo;use&rsquo; it &nbsp;

- There are differences in how people and institutions understand certain terms. For example, there is a difference between &lsquo;inactivity&rsquo; and &lsquo;unemployment,&rsquo; and we need to be clear in explaining the differences such as this, so people do not misinterpret the data&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

- We need to educate users and provide meta data alongside hard statistics&nbsp;

<img alt="Audience view of Panel at Launch" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2022-12-05-114055.871767Panel---Copy.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 221px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 1px;" />

&nbsp;

To access the PowerPoint slides which were presented on the day of the Launch event, please view them <a href="https://www.cityobservatory.birmingham.gov.uk/@birmingham-city-council/birmingham-city-observatory-launch-event" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">here.</a>&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Following the launch event, the City Observatory team is committed to continuing to bring the public and partners meaningful and accessible data. If you would like to contact a member of the team to find out more, tell us about your interests in this area, or find out more about our vision, please feel free to contact us on <a href="mailto:cityobservatory@birmingham.gov.uk" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">cityobservatory@birmingham.gov.uk</a>. We look forward to working and collaborating with you.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<img alt="" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2022-12-05-111648.868658Team-Photo.png" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 1px; width: 500px; height: 425px;" />

Written by Richard Brooks, Director of Strategy, Equality &amp; Partnerships

our-launch-event

Our Launch Event

<h3><img alt="" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2022-11-22-152717.719564CityOutcomeIndicators.JPG" style="margin-right: 10px; float: left; width: 300px; height: 169px;" />We have published the Birmingham City Outcome Indicators, but what are these and why do they matter?</h3>

&nbsp;

Metrics can provide a useful snapshot of our city, though at stake is our tendency to critique often complex issues through the lens of comparisons and ranks. It is therefore important to recognise the spatial and temporal context behind the data itself.

&nbsp;

Hence in antithesis, metrics also reveal what we do not know and what more we may want to know in order to better understand and respond to problems.

&nbsp;

Statistics can illuminate matters in need of <a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/657241">reform</a> within our jurisdiction. If there are disparities in educational attainment, increases in unemployment, inequalities in health and surges in crime, then these trends will inevitably have a bearing on how we think through solutions and distribute our resources locally.

&nbsp;

One of the public policy challenges of our time is the rebuilding of <a href="https://www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/publications/kindness-emotions-and-human-relationships-the-blind-spot-in-public-policy/">public trust</a>. Indicators can make transparent the realities of our environment which we have a right to know about, particularly what is working well and what is not. They are thus integral to the delivery of institutional and individual responsibility, as well as the collective galvanising of shared interests in building a prosperous, healthy, green, inclusive and safe metropolis.

&nbsp;

We explore primarily two types of indicators: the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6785080/https:/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6785080/">objective and subjective</a>. The former has its roots in economics and concentrates on resources, whilst the latter is derived from questionnaires that ask one to appraise their interiority. Together, they offer partial insights into <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169204602002347?via%3Dihub">&ldquo;the city on the ground and the city in the mind&rdquo;</a>.

&nbsp;

Nevertheless, each has limitations. <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=kCZDDwAAQBAJ&amp;source=gbs_book_other_versions">Objective metrics</a> that proclaim improvement gloss over the experiences of those left on the margins, whilst <a href="https://rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/tran.12528">subjective measures</a> dissociate individuals from the intricacies of the space they occupy.

&nbsp;

Furthermore, how are indicators formed? What should be measured? What must each measurement represent? Whose experiences are captured? Let us investigate the answers to these questions together.

Written by Shivani Singh, Policy &amp; Research Advisor

birmingham-city-outcome-indicators

Birmingham City Outcome Indicators

<h3><img alt="" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2022-11-18-101742.85130920220524BIRMINGHAM-CC1276.jpg" style="margin-right: 10px; float: left; width: 300px; height: 225px;" />Hi, I&rsquo;m Richard Brooks, Director of Strategy, Equality &amp; Partnerships at Birmingham City Council. I am excited to be launching the Birmingham City Observatory &ndash; a place where the public and our partners can access meaningful and accurate data and insights to drive forward positive change for our city and for our citizens.</h3>

&nbsp;

Our aims are simple. On the one hand, we want to publish a &lsquo;single source of the truth&rsquo; about Birmingham which provides a better understanding of our people, our city, the key challenges it faces and the opportunities it presents. On the other hand, we want to start a collaborative journey with partners across the city, where we use data together to create value for our diverse communities.

&nbsp;

We don&rsquo;t just want the Observatory to be somewhere the City Council publishes data. We want it to be an inclusive and shared space, which grows to reflect the needs and interests of our partners across the public, voluntary and private sectors.

&nbsp;

We anticipate the Observatory being used in different ways by many different customers. Within the City Council, it will provide an evidence base for our own decision making and performance improvement. We hope that other organisations across the city will also use it to inform their own policy development, projects and programmes of work. We hope that public and private enterprises can create valuable applications for the data and will use it to inform their own strategies and actions.

&nbsp;

Over the last few months, we have focussed on building a strong team to support the Observatory and to produce some initial datasets and insights. You can browse through some of the rich and varied material that has already been made available on the platform. For example:

&nbsp;

<ol>
	<li>
	* We&rsquo;ve created a set of City Outcome Indicators that link to our City Partnership priorities and Birmingham City Council&rsquo;s strategic objectives;
	</li>
	<li>
	* We&rsquo;ve published new ward and constituency profiles to inform local democratic priorities and decision making; and
	</li>
	<li>
	* The financial resilience analysis that underpins the city council&rsquo;s response to the cost of living crisis is published here.
	</li>
</ol>

&nbsp;

There&rsquo;s much more content available already. But I want to emphasise that this is just a beginning. We&rsquo;re not unveiling a painting and expecting it to be admired by an audience - we&rsquo;re opening a garden that we invite you to help grow and harvest. This means feedback is crucial. We want to know what you value about the Observatory, how you could create value from it, and what you would want to see in terms of content and collaborative activity that we can facilitate.

&nbsp;

We&rsquo;re very much aware that there is an incredible range of data and insight capability across the city, including world-leading universities and research centres; highly capable public sector organisations; a diverse range of voluntary and community sector organisations; and businesses large and small. We won&rsquo;t know everyone though, or all the existing collaborations or projects underway. We want to be humble and support the data community across the city.

&nbsp;

I should also say&nbsp;we&rsquo;re sure to make mistakes. Where possible we are trying to publish dashboards and data that is linked to source, but we still have some old-fashioned pdfs on this &lsquo;version 1.0&rsquo; of the site (alongside the underlying data sets) and there are bound to be some technical and functionality issues. Accessibility is a serious challenge when making large volumes of data available, and we know there&rsquo;s much work to do here. Inevitably, we won&rsquo;t meet everyone&rsquo;s needs and interests; certainly not at the first attempt. But we are committed to listening to feedback and seeking improvement.

&nbsp;

We are also a genuinely curious bunch. I am looking forward to the surprises, when we discover new things about our city, or new ways to achieve more for our citizens. We would love to come and discuss the Birmingham City Observatory with you, to connect to new partners, to hear new ideas, and to draw on new sources of creative energy.

&nbsp;

The Birmingham City Observatory is launched on Tuesday 22nd November 2022 at 17.00. To get in touch, to tell us about your interests in this area, or find out more about our open data ambitions please feel free to contact us on <a href="mailto:cityobservatory@birmingham.gov.uk">cityobservatory@birmingham.gov.uk</a> .

&nbsp;

Written by Richard Brooks, Director of Strategy, Equality &amp; Partnerships

welcome-to-the-birmingham-city-observatory

Welcome to the Birmingham City Observatory

<img alt="" src="https://birmingham-city-observatory.datopian.com/uploads/page_images/2022-11-17-130018.542484DataCharter.jpg" style="width: 800px; height: 280px;" />

&nbsp;

Here at the city Observatory we are working with our own teams within Birmingham City Council and partners to come up with a data charter. A set of principles by which we, and all of our curious collaborators work to.

&nbsp;

While this is very much a work in progress we thought we would share with you some of the core beliefs we will be working towards. Our aim for the charter is to aim to work alongside the <a href="https://opendatacharter.net/">OpenDataCharter.net</a> which <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wUqYk2dgowagw5HaErUtHLzmuNtN554a/view">our own government is commited to supporting</a>.

&nbsp;

As part of our charter we aim to:

* Encourage citizens, civil society and private sector organizations, and multilateral institutions to open up data created and collected by them in order to move toward a richer open data ecosystem with multiple sources of open data.

* Create or explore potential partnerships between governments and with civil society and private sector organizations and multilateral institutions to support the release of open data and maximize the impact of data through effective use.

* Create or support programs and initiatives that foster the development or co-creation of datasets, visualizations, applications, and other tools based on open data.

* Conduct or support research on the social and economic impacts of open data.

* Build capacity and share technical expertise and experience with other governments and international organizations around the world, ensuring that everyone can reap the benefits of open data.

* Empower a future generation of data innovators inside and outside government by building capacity and encouraging developers, entrepreneurs, civil society and private sector organizations, academics, media representatives, government employees, and other users to unlock the value of open data.

&nbsp;

The Data Charter&nbsp;work is being led by the Birmingham Digital Partnership as part of the <a href="https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50269/our_digital_strategy_2022_to_2025">Digital City Roadmap</a>.

&nbsp;

What would you like to see in our data charter? How can we ensure that our work can help you be more curious. <a href="https://www.cityobservatory.birmingham.gov.uk/contact">Reach out to see how we can help</a>.

&nbsp;

Author: Danny O&#39;Neill and Raj Mack

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