Local Insight Mapping

Supercharging Somerset VCFSE's with reliable and accurate data

We know that running a VCFSE organisation requires the mastering of lots of skills.

Understanding and using data effectively is one of them, but when you’re short on time and resources its hard to know where to start.

That’s where Local Insight comes in. Free and easy to use, Local Insight lets you explore data about the area you work in and is packed with over 1,000 neighbourhood-level indicators that are reliable and up to date.

Data is available on themes such as crime, housing, employment, the economy, population and services.

Population Data Service

The Local Insight platform provides data on various themes, including vulnerable groups, population, health, crime, housing, access and transport, education, communities, and the environment.

Customer Reports

You can generate instant web reports for specific themes and areas of interest. The reports provide interactive graphs and charts for key indicators and exporting of data in table format.

Customisable Maps

You can select which indicators to make available on the map and arrange them in themes that best suit your requirements or organisation.

Explore your area with Local Insight

This link takes you to the Local Insight map and will open in a new tab.

Does it have data on the places I'm working in?

So it's free to use?

Explore your area of interest at a granular level by using postcodes or selecting predefined custom areas such as parishes, wards or Community Boards.

Yes! Local Insight is available for free to VCFSEs in Somerset as a result of local prosperity funding secured by Spark Somerset.

I’ve always been impressed by the Local Insight mapping solution — it’s a potent tool for the VCSE sector. Whether it's identifying areas of greatest need, supporting funding applications with robust local evidence, or helping community organisations target their services more effectively, it offers a level of clarity and context that’s hard to match. It turns complex data into actionable insight, and that’s exactly what our sector needs.

Thanks to the funding we've secured, we're delighted to make the Local Insight mapping tool available to the VCSE sector in Somerset. It’s a game-changer for understanding where services are being delivered, where the gaps are, and how organisations can better coordinate their efforts. By mapping local activity against key indicators, we can support more informed decision-making and stronger, data-led collaboration across the county.

Use for funding applications and strategic planning

A bit stuck?

Increasingly, funders want to know the data that helps to tell the story of your place and, in turn, why your charity or project is needed. Using a tool like Local Insight can help improve your success in funding applications.

And, what’s more, it can help you plan more strategically so that you know you’re doing great things where they are most needed.

We’ll be developing user guides and sharing examples of how VCFSEs have used Local Insights over the coming months.

If you would like more information, please contact us via our enquiries link.