A data platform produced by the research team led by Dr Soyoung Kweon and Prof Susan Milner presents data mapping indicators of inequality and relative deprivation, at the level of ward and/or Lower layer Super Output Areas (LSOA).
The platform allows users to discover information about their own or neighbouring areas, and compare the information to national-level data.
It intends to provide analysis of the Census and housing data of Bath and North East Somerset (BNES) to further the understanding of fuel poverty as a multidimensional phenomenon and help identify imminent needs for setting up efficient policies tackling fuel poverty.
Interactive report and application
The report and application use maps to show data at the micro-level within BNES.
Visit this page to read the report.
Visit this page to access the application.
On both platforms, you can have a closer look at datasets and/or variables of interest by using interactive options given. You can visualise the data on a map, compare two maps side-by-side and tabulate multiple variables.
The report gives further detail based on the research project conducted in collaboration with Citizens Advice BNES.
Background to the work
In 2021-2022, collaborating with Citizens Advice BNES, Prof Susan Milner and Dr Soyoung Kweon analysed Citizens Advice data on clients who received fuel vouchers in BNES.
They produced two internal reports, assessing clients’ individual and household characteristics (e.g., gender, disability, occupation, income, debt, household type, etc.), evaluating whether Citizens Advice successfully reached people in need. They also linked data with Census 2011 data (the most recent data available at the point of research) to explore the fuel poverty issue in terms of inequalities and vulnerabilities across BNES areas.
The results of the analysis showed that Citizens Advice generally reached those who are more likely to be in need according to the national data and previous research – lone parents and those with a disability or long-term health condition. This is important because Citizens Advice’s mission is to reach those most in need.
Using clients’ postcode data, they also found that fuel poverty heavily reflects inequalities across small areas in BNES. More vouchers were given to individuals/families who lived in postcode areas which are relatively more deprived, with a higher unemployment rate and long-term sick or disabled rate, and displaying a larger proportion of lone parents, social housing and prepayment meters. Using nationally available data they were able to show that the pattern applies more widely in the local authority area.
The app and report are supported by the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account institutional grant at the University of Bath (Ref: ES/X004651/1).