A mention in the Guardian

Yesterday an article was published in the Guardian:
'How data science is helping charities to fight hunger in the UK'

I have provided the link above for you to read the whole article and have provided a few exerts below, including a plug for Pro Bono O.R.

'Over the past 18 months, the Trussell Trust has been working with researchers from Hull University Business School and social innovation agency AAM Associates to explore how new technologies can help them to fight UK hunger.


With data science firm Coppelia recruited to the project, and having taken advice directly from the Information Commissioner’s Office on appropriate data security, the initial analysis highlighted some noticeable regional variations and delivery patterns year on year.


A mapping tool was used to show how the trust’s users are distributed geographically. Heat maps showing demand – the darker the colour, the greater the demand – have allowed us to visualise regional patterns of need.


For charities – especially those on the frontline helping people in crisis – this project highlights the importance of collecting data, and how the potential for aligning open data sets (a charge led well by the Open Data Institute) with that data is rapidly becoming a reality.

Data scientists can be expensive, but data-hungry academics are always looking for frontline partnerships, and bodies such as the OR Society run great pro-bono programmes to help.'

Thank you to Andy Hamflett, Co-founder and director of AAM Associates, for giving us a mention!

3rd Sector Operational Research makes National News

Operational Research has been making headline news recently. Click here for more information.

Dr. Giles Hindle from Hull University Business School recently headed up an analytics project to develop new tools to support the Trussel Trust in the UK. Data scientists, business model specialists and academics worked with the Trust on a NEMODE project funded by Research Councils UK (RCUK)’s Digital Economy programme. The project help the trust make the crucial link between their business model and the value of analytics. The team then used cutting edge data science techniques to learn more about the foodbank usage patterns and trends that underpin emergency food provision in the UK. As well as conducting data exploration the team has created the UK’s first dynamic visualisation tool for crises related to food poverty. The prototype uses foodbank data to map geographical demand and also aligns findings to 2011 Census data to predict where additional foodbanks may be needed.

Join us for a free event on 8th June in Manchester where a number of speakers will describe how O.R. has benefited their business. Hear Giles describe first-hand how the project was conducted and find out how you could commission analytical projects for your organisation.

Click Here for further details and to make a booking.

Helping the Hungry by Improving Processes

Helping the Hungry by Improving Processes (Press release)

The O.R. (Operational Research) Society runs a Pro Bono O.R. scheme which provides third sector organisations in the UK access to free O.R. consultancy that can help increase efficiency and effectiveness.  In April 2013 Welcome Centre food bank received support to help them to prepare for an increased demand on their services.

The rise in the number of people using food banks has increased dramatically in 2014. David McAuley, the chief executive of the Trussell Trust, says that in reality half a million people are struggling to feed their families.   

The Welcome Centre in Huddersfield provides emergency food and toiletries packs, household goods, bedding and clothes to people in crisis.  As proved to be the case in 2014, The Welcome Centre was expecting a big increase in demand and needed to know how the operation could be improved both in the short term and for the future when new IT and accommodation could be found.

The consultants studied documents relating to the Centre’s operation, and visited to see it in practice, its constraints and difficulties. They devised a questionnaire which was sent out to management, trustees, staff/volunteers, donors and referring agencies seeking initial views on problem areas and possible solutions.  They used the responses to the questionnaires to design a half-day workshop which was attended by a mix of trustees, the manager, staff and volunteers. The  workshop discussed problems and potential solutions, then considered ‘ideal ‘business processes for the future, to assist the trustees and management in designing systems to be used after the Centre’s move to new accommodation. Each group looked at a different set of processes: receiving, sorting and storing goods, and handling referrals, sorting out packs and handing to client. A report recommending quick wins and longer term plans was delivered and discussed by the trustees.

Outputs from the study included a management report which was discussed by trustees, suggestions for new IT systems and a summary of: problems faced by staff & volunteers, outcomes from workshop, quick wins and recommended future processes.

The benefits to the food bank were enhanced communication between all parties, appreciation by trustees of day to day problems facing staff/volunteers and vice versa, a clear list of problems together with simple quick solutions and process maps detailing: current processes and an outline of recommended future processes.

The Chair of Trustees said ‘With your input we feel we are more equipped to deal with the expansion of the organisation’.

The current feedback from the Welcome Centre is that things are much improved for two main reasons – improved accommodation with more space and the introduction of a new client database.  Many of the recommendations have been implemented and there is now a satisfaction with how things operate. 

For further information about Pro Bono O.R. and to see more case studies please visit: http://www.theorsociety.com/Pages/Probono/Probono.aspx or contact Felicity McLeister (O.R. Pro Bono Project Manager) on 0121 233 9300 or email felicity.mcleister@theorsociety.com

Food bank case study: See how O.R. is helping the hungry by improving processes

The rise in the number of people using food banks has increased dramatically in 2014. David McAuley the chief executive of the Trussell Trust says that in reality half a million people are struggling to feed their families.   

In an article in the Guardian, David McAuley said 'Going to a food bank is a last resort when all else has failed'  See the full article here.

Last year two Pro Bono O.R. volunteers were asked to help the Welcome Centre food bank. The centre was expecting a big increase in demand and needed to know how the operation could be improved both in the short term and for the future.  Following questionnaires and a series of workshops the Chair of trustees said 'with your input we feel we are more equipped to deal with the expansion of the organisation'.

For further details of the case study please see the slide below:

For further case studies please visit: http://www.theorsociety.com/Pages/Probono/Probono.aspx or for futher information please email me at felicity.mcleister@theorsociety.com