DiverseCity Development Trust is proud to announce the official launch of “Empowering Marginalised Communities through Data-Driven Policy Innovation” — a pioneering initiative funded through the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP) via the Communities Innovating Yorkshire Fund (CIYF).
This project will tackle one of the most persistent challenges in policymaking: the lack of meaningful community-led data that truly reflects the lived experiences of marginalised and underrepresented groups.
A community-first approach
The initiative will train residents from marginalised backgrounds in participatory data collection and analysis, while also developing a digital community data hub where insights can be stored, visualised, and shared with local organisations and policymakers.
Through focus groups, surveys, and participatory mapping, communities will co-create the evidence that directly informs policy. Training in data literacy will ensure participants not only gather information but also interpret and advocate with confidence.
Driving real policy change
The project will host policy engagement roundtables, bringing together communities, universities, and policymakers to translate grassroots data into evidence-based solutions.
“Too often, policy decisions are based on statistics that don’t capture people’s real lives. This project shifts the balance of power, giving communities the tools to lead the conversation and influence decisions that affect them,” said Kalpa Palliyaguruge, Project and Partnerships Manager, DiverseCity Development Trust.
Expected outcomes
The project will empower communities with practical skills in data collection and analysis, create a sustainable digital data hub, strengthen local policy influence, and establish a replicable model for other regions to adopt.
Commitment to transparency
DiverseCity Development Trust will share updates throughout the project’s delivery period, ensuring partners, policymakers, and the public can follow progress and outcomes.
This work marks a significant step toward building inclusive, evidence-based, and community-led policymaking in Yorkshire.
https://mailchi.mp/44893efeb1b5/latest-updates-ypip-newsletter?e=d8a2c06bb8
