Sortified

The challenge

Sortified CIC is a progressive social enterprise, creating and producing positive change for people, communities, and community organisations. Sortified were commissioned by the Lincolnshire Community Foundation to develop an evidence-based Covid-19 community strategy, so that the foundation could prioritise its funding to individuals and communities in most need during the pandemic and beyond. In order to fulfil this task, detailed data on the population of Greater Lincolnshire was required. This included relevant data on Covid-19, but also associated risk factors such as: demographics, levels of deprivation, mental health and well-being, health and risk factors, household status, household and child poverty, and homelessness. Sortified also required an easy to use assessment framework that allowed them to look across these risk factors to determine the areas of the population most in need of support at that time.

The approach

NPC worked with Sortified to generate a unique and bespoke data set for Greater Lincolnshire. The data set was created by combining open-source data from official sources, available at different geographical and administrative levels; from Lower Layer Super Output Area (LSOA) level, to ward and local authority level. Overall, the data set covered approximately 170,000 data points across all the LSOAs in Greater Lincolnshire. We also developed an assessment framework that would enable Sortified to look at a variety of community level needs and issues. This focused on before Covid-19, during the crisis, and on a ‘looking forward’ perspective—this was achieved by identifying areas that were most likely to require support in the future.

The result

Sortified analysed this data and evidence alongside information gathered from community engagement, feedback from local community organisations and infrastructure groups, and local intelligence. This enabled them to generate a comprehensive, evidence-based and community-led strategy to support Lincolnshire Community Foundation (as well as other funders) to target their grants and funds where they were most needed, and in the areas where they would have the greatest impact. The report was well received for its clarity and emphasis on the communities which needed the most support. NPC also ensured that Sortified had the necessary tools and skills to be able to update the data set over time; so it can continue to be a useful decision-making tool in the future.