Understanding GeographiesStatistics for the Voluntary Sector

Alison Peacock

Mission Planning Officer

Wednesday 8 July 2009

Manchester Diocese & Greater Manchester Districts

Digital map from “Dotted Eyes”, © Crown CopyrightOrdnance Survey Licence No. 100002215 (2009)

Presentation Overview

• Why does geography matter?

• Which geography should I use?

• Working with small area geographies– Wards– NeSS Geographies

• Tools and Applications

“Geography is key to virtually all National Statistics. It provides the structure for collecting, processing, storing and aggregating the data.”

www.nationalstatistics.gov.uk/geography

Why does geography matter?

Which Geography?Frequently Accessed Geographies

Administrative

Postal

HealthCensus Output

Electoral

Travel to Work Areas

Regeneration Areas (e.g. NDC)

National & Neighbourhood

Statistics

GMP Police Divisions & Neighbourhood Areas

Church of England Parish

What have we learned?

• Other geographies rarely match CoE parish boundaries!

• But access to small area geographies has enabled us to– identify areas of particular need within larger

geographic areas– work more effectively across our own boundaries– define areas and issues of common interest– promote partnership working

1. Working with Wards• Located within more than one geography

hierarchy– Administrative– Electoral– Census Output

• Subject to frequent revisions– Statistical Wards– Census Area Statistics (CAS) Wards– Standard Table Wards

Ardwick WardBoundary Change

Postcode M12 6FZ

Boundary 2003

Boundary 2004

Digital map from “Dotted Eyes”, © Crown Copyright

Ordnance Survey Licence No. 100002215 (2009)

Be Aware!• You are likely to find data presented for both

electoral and CAS ward boundaries• Labour market website NOMIS contains 2001

Census and 2009 benefits data calculated for CAS Wards www.nomisweb.co.uk

• Important to check the area to which the data relates (especially when calculating trends)

Ardwick Ward2001 Census Resident Population

National Statistics Manchester City Council

NOMIS NeSS 2003 Boundaries

2004 Boundaries

Ardwick 9,811 9,809 9,809 12,347

Ward-level DataStrengths & Limitations

• Wards are important units for local government statistics– e.g. Salford City Council ward profiles contain recent data

on:• Crime • Benefits• Dwelling Stock• Council Tax

• But ward-level data is used less frequently in the presentation of Neighbourhood Statistics– very little data presented at ward-level post-2003– replaced by NeSS geography hierarchy

2. Working with NeSS Geography

• Understanding the NeSS hierarchy

• Identifying the physical boundaries of statistical geographies

• Checking the availability of data for small area statistical geographies

www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk

Understanding the NeSS Geography Hierarchy

Government Office Region (N = 9)

County and / or Local Authority District (N = 354)

Middle Super Output Area (N = 6780) c.5,000 – 7,000 population

Lower Super Output Area (N = 32,482)c. 1,500 population

(Census) Output Area (N = 165,665)c.250-300 population

MSOA

St Thomas Centre by NeSS Geography Hierarchy

PostcodeM12 6FZ

Output Area00BNFA0008 LSOA

Manchester 018DE01005065

MSOAManchester 018

E02001065

Digital map from “Dotted Eyes”, © Crown Copyright

Ordnance Survey Licence No. 100002215 (2009)

Neighbourhood Summary

Find Statistics for An Area

NeSS Indicators by Geography

% Census-Based

Indicators

% Other

Indicators

Total Indicators

Output Area 91.7 8.3 819

LSOA 18.3 81.7 4,112

MSOA 31.9 68.1 2,353

Source: Indicator Catalogue 02/07/09

Tools & Applications

• Additional Tools– Create a custom table, chart or map– Discover and view boundaries

• Key Applications– Building user-defined areas– Identifying areas of particular need

Additional NeSS Tools

Custom tables, charts and maps

Discover and view boundaries

“M14” (7 Part Wards)

Digital map from “Dotted Eyes”, © Crown Copyright

Ordnance Survey Licence No. 100002215 (2009)

St John, Pendlebury &the Duchy Estate

Digital map from “Dotted Eyes”, © Crown Copyright

Ordnance Survey Licence No. 100002215 (2009)

Further Information

• More About Areaswww.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/Info.do?page

=userguide/moreaboutareas/more-about-areas.htm

• Beginners’ Guide to UK Geographywww.statistics.gov.uk/geography/beginners_guide.asp

• Geography Glossarywww.statistics.gov.uk/geography/glossary/default.asp

Contact Details

Alison Peacock

Mission Planning Officer

apeacock@manchester.anglican.org

0161-828 1447 (direct)