Data Means Nothing Without Action

How do we shift from dashboards to decisions? In this episode, Dr Jessica Sheringham, Principal Research Fellow at UCL and lead of the DASHH programme (Data Sharing for Housing and Health), shares how better data sharing between housing and health can transform lives—if we act on it. 

Key takeaways: 

• Trust is the foundation. Residents are more willing to share data when they believe it will lead to change. Quick wins—like using overcrowding data to target damp prevention—help build that trust. 

• Close the feedback loop. Too often, residents report issues and see no change. Data collection without follow-up breeds disengagement. 

• Align systems to realities. Misaligned definitions (e.g., what counts as a bedroom?) block effective data integration. Shared language and standards are essential. 

• Shift from reactive to proactive. Without time, training, and structure, data gets stuck in dashboards. True value comes from embedding it in decision-making. 

• “GDPR says no” isn’t good enough. Responsible data sharing for public benefit is not only possible—it’s expected. 

Tune in and join us as we keep MAKING HOUSING BETTER—through action, not abstraction.