View the Qualitative Insights Repository
The Qualitative Insights Repository is online platform for partners and council teams to share and view insights gathered from Wirral residents. It hosts Health and Wellbeing evidence gathered throughout Wirral. The insights shared have been gathered by Wirral's Qualitative Insight Team and a variety of partners from across the Community, Voluntary and Faith sector.
Building on the work of Wirral's Public Health’s Qualitative Insight Team, the Qualitative Insights Repository host insights which explore the wider determinants of health here in Wirral and delve deep into the reasons behind the health inequalities experienced. The insights will support partners and council teams when making resident-focused decisions.
-
NHS Health Checks Community Setting Qualitative Survey 2024
Public Health Officers conducted a qualitative survey with residents in community settings in Birkenhead to understand: Resident’s understanding of what an NHS Health Check included. Resident’s experiences of an NHS Health Check, if they had attended one. Reasons why residents did not, or would not, attend an NHS Health Check if invited. Public Health Officers engaged with residents between the ages of 40-74 years who could be eligible for an NHS Health Check. This insight was used to inform service providers currently contracted to carry out the NHS Health Check programme.
26 Nov 2025
Insight provided by: Public Health Officers’ Team, Public Health, Wirral Council
-
Warm Hubs: Executive Summary of Key Findings
This research gauged community thoughts on 'Warm Hubs' – local spaces providing warmth and resources during colder months. An online survey and in-person community engagement was conducted with 309 Wirral residents in October 2022. Residents indicated they would use Warm Hubs for socialising, mitigating the rising cost of living and warmth. However, managing well, having other commitments or feeling anxious were cited as reasons not to attend. This work highlighted that Warm Hubs should welcome all people, be local, accessible and easy to access via public transport, and should include food and drinks, social activities and resources, not just warmth.
26 Nov 2025
Insight provided by: Qualitative Insight Team, Public Health, Wirral Council
-
Post Covid Survey - Qualitative responses
A community survey was designed to capture perspectives on support needs and priorities during the transition out of COVID-19 restrictions, with the aim of informing local policy development and service planning. The survey featured three open-ended questions exploring support requirements, adaptation to living with COVID-19 and community priorities for recovery. This report provides an overview of the key themes identified through qualitative analysis of 516 participant responses to these questions, offering valuable insight into community experiences and expectations during this period of change.
24 Nov 2025
Insight provided by: Wirral Intelligence Service - Public Health - Wirral Council
-
New Brighton Businesses’ Understanding and Expectations of Wirral Regeneration Masterplan
The Qualitative Insight Team conducted a focus group with six New Brighton business representatives to understand their views on Wirral’s regeneration plans. Participants shared perceptions of regeneration, concerns about the Masterplan, and expectations for economic and community benefits. Insights highlighted the need for clearer communication, inclusion of small businesses, and sustainable projects addressing poverty and inequality. Businesses emphasised restoring local pride and creating collaborative innovation groups. Findings contributed to a broader collation of insights informing Council planning.
21 Nov 2025
Insight provided by: Qualitative Insight Team, Public Health, Wirral Council
-
Improving resident engagement through Wirral People’s Panel: priorities, views, and opportunities for sustainable community involvement
The Wirral People’s Panel aimed to improve engagement with residents who were not typically involved in council consultations. Nine panels were held across Wirral, facilitated by trained local residents, to explore community priorities and views. Over 100 participants shared perspectives on local issues, including environment, anti-social behaviour, gaps in support services, and economic decline. The project also sought to upskill facilitators and foster sustainable engagement. While the process successfully reached new voices, insights largely reinforced known issues, highlighting the need for more focused themes and stronger mechanisms for change in future initiatives.
21 Nov 2025
Insight provided by: Revealing Reality
-
Improving Health and Wellbeing for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Groups in Wirral: Research and Innovation Toolkit
This research explored health and wellbeing experiences among ethnic minority communities in Wirral. Over 80 residents from diverse ethnic backgrounds and 20 stakeholders were engaged through interviews, mini-groups, and discussions. The study examined integration, social networks, health challenges and access to services. Findings highlight fragmented experiences, language barriers, reliance on ethnic networks and varying levels of hopefulness and resilience. Opportunities include promoting social connection, effective support and personal progression whilst addressing stigma and discrimination concerns. Recommendations focus on collaboration, professional training and inclusive messaging to improve health outcomes and integration for residents from ethnic minority communities across Wirral.
21 Nov 2025
Insight provided by: Revealing Reality
-
Health-Related Worklessness in Wirral: Barriers, Opportunities and Service Transformation
This research looked at how to make people in Wirral healthier and happier by tackling problems in service delivery around work and wellbeing. Using ethnography, the research focused on people who receive Employment Support Allowance, the challenges they face, and what helps them feel ready for change. The research also explored how where people live affects their choices. The insights helped to inform service redesign and investment strategies to reduce health inequalities and improve outcomes for residents.
20 Nov 2025
Insight provided by: Revealing Reality
-
Parent’s Voice Report
The Foundation Years Trust was commissioned by Wirral Council to gather insights from parents of children aged 0–5 across Wirral to inform the Early Years Strategy 2022–2026. With support from community partners, over 100 families were engaged, including parents for whom English is not their first language, and parents of children with disabilities. Using creative activities and focus groups, parents shared hopes for their children, views on childcare, and community support needs.
19 Nov 2025
Insight provided by: The Foundation Years Trust
-
Drug Use In Wirral: Qualitative Study
The Qualitative Insight Team was asked to gather qualitative insight into people’s personal experience of drug and alcohol use in Wirral. This work provides in-depth insights into people’s experiences around the culture and harms of drug use, engagement with treatment and recovery services, stigma and resilience, health inequalities, contact with the criminal justice system, and the experiences of children and families. This information aims to ensure their voices and needs shape the design and delivery of the local offer. It also supports the delivery of Wirral's Health and Wellbeing Strategy, by ensuring that services are designed to strengthen the support for people with problem drug and alcohol use, prevent lasting impact, and address differences in health outcomes.
17 Nov 2025
Insight provided by: Qualitative Insight Team
-
Together All Are Able
The Qualitative Insights Team collaborated with Together All Are Able (TAAA), an advocacy and self‑advocacy group for people with Learning Disabilities and SEND. The project brought together individuals with lived experience, supported by QIT researchers, to explore their views on accessibility in research involving people with SEND/LD. Its aim was to review sections of the Wirral Public Health Qualitative Insight Team’s Qualitative Insight Toolkit and suggest how these could be adapted for people with SEND/LD. The work focused on identifying what matters most to these individuals when participating in research, providing guidance for others conducting inclusive studies.
17 Nov 2025
Insight provided by: Qualitative Insights Team - Wirral Council Together All Are Able (SEND/LD Advocacy group)
-
Care More About Us: Reviewing the Youth Offer in Wirral
Wirral Council conducted a comprehensive review of its Youth Offer in 2019 to understand young people’s needs and aspirations. A survey designed and delivered in collaboration with young people collected 2,736 responses. The survey gathered qualitative insights on key themes including health and wellbeing; education and employment; leisure activities; youth voice; community involvement; and access to information and advice. The insights provided ‘Top 10 Recommendations’ for improving the Youth Offer in Wirral.
17 Nov 2025
Insight provided by: Wirral Council in collaboration with the Youth Voice Group and Children in Care Council
-
Why Community Matters: Understanding What Children and Families Want and Need from Early Help in Wirral
The Community Matters project explored what children and families in Wirral need from Early Help services. Between June and November 2019, Capacity engaged with 447 children, young people, parents, carers and professionals across Wirral, through interviews, focus groups and surveys. Families emphasised the importance of human connection over formal services, highlighting unmet mental health needs, social isolation and challenges during life changes. Barriers included fear, shame and fragmented support. The insights informed the co-design of the Family Toolbox Alliance, launched in 2022, providing a community-driven model and a single online access point to empower families with practical and emotional support.
14 Nov 2025
Insight provided by: Capacity
-
Cost of Living Case Studies 2022
Wirral Council’s Qualitative Insight Team spoke to nine Wirral residents about their experiences of the cost-of-living crisis in 2022. Using semi-structured interviews, the research explored the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on residents and business owners, and possible opportunities for support. Three of the case studies were visualised as animated videos.
14 Nov 2025
Insight provided by: Qualitative Insight Team, Public Health, Wirral Council
-
Strengthening Wirral’s Library Offer: In-person engagement with non-library users and Wirral’s ‘Friends of’ library groups
Qualitative insight researchers spoke to residents who do not use Wirral’s library services to explore their barriers and motivators to accessing library services. Researchers also gathered feedback from 'Friends of' library groups to explore the strengths and gaps of the current library service, and opportunities for the future.
30 Oct 2025
Insight provided by: Qualitative Insight Team, Public Health, Wirral Council
-
Wirral Neighbourhood Model Pilot
The Qualitative Insight Team in Public Health were asked to support the Wirral Neighbourhood Model Pilot – a community-led initiative to reduce health inequalities – by gathering resident voices across Birkenhead A and Wallasey C. In total, 156 people were asked about their current health & wellbeing, what is important to them where they live, what they would like to see improved, and how they would notice positive changes. The main method of insight gathering was through door knocking, supplemented by community engagements.
09 Sep 2025
Insight provided by: Qualitative Insight Team, Public Health, Wirral Council.
-
Vaping: Insights from young people and professionals in 2022–2023
The Qualitative Insight Team in Public Health gathered insight on vaping in Wirral from young people and professionals. Focus groups were used to speak to a total of 48 people, including 36 young people aged 11-19 and 12 professionals working in youth services. The insights describe the prevalence and allure of vaping, access to vapes, gaps in knowledge around vaping harms, and challenges of regulating vaping.
09 Sep 2025
Insight provided by: Qualitative Insight Team, Public Health, Wirral Council.
-
Young People’s Risk-Taking Behaviours and Enablers/Barriers to Accessing Support and Services
To support the development of Wirral’s offer for children and young people around ‘risk and resilience’, the Qualitative Insight Team gathered insights on young people’s risk-taking behaviours and the pressures they experience. Focus groups were held with young people, parents and professionals. Semi-structured interviews and friendship interviews were held with 17–19-year-olds engaged in youth services. This work identified main risk-taking behaviours and how pressures are managed by young people and families, alongside barriers to accessing support/services. These insights informed the commissioning of a coordinated ‘risk and resilience’ offer to meet identified needs and improve outcomes for families.
09 Sep 2025
Insight provided by: Qualitative Insight Team, Public Health, Wirral Council.
-
Liscard Together Partnership – Revitalising Liscard Town Centre Workshop
A workshop was held by Wirral Council’s Regeneration and Place directorate and IntoPlaces to explore the appetite for forming a Liscard town centre partnership. The workshop gathered stakeholder’s views on the town’s strengths and gaps, and their vision for the future of the town centre. This workshop was the starting point to the establishment of a new town centre regeneration process and town centre partnership for Liscard called the Liscard Together Partnership.
09 Sep 2025
Insight provided by: Wirral Council’s Regeneration and Place directorate and IntoPlaces.
-
What activities/events do community members want to see at the Tranmere Scout and Guide Institute in the future?
Members of the fundraising team at the Scout and Guide Institute in Tranmere piloted a qualitative survey with open questions to ask local community members, "What activities and events would you like to see at the Institute in the future?". This qualitative survey was shared with attendees of our book sale in May 2024. In total, 13 community members shared their thoughts and ideas with us. Our fundraising team have used this community insight to plan further activities and events in the building for 2024/2025.
09 Sep 2025
Insight provided by: Tranmere Scout and Guide Institute Fundraising Team. This group consists of representatives of our resident Scouting and Guiding groups, Institute volunteers and caretakers of the building.
-
Open Door Charity: Ongoing Impact Evaluation of our Bazaar Mental Health Support Programme for Young People aged 14–35.
Bazaar is a free eight-session peer support programme shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. By blending elements of CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), mindfulness and more, Bazaar gives you the tools to control and combat negative thought patterns. Feedback that we collect from programme members through ongoing evaluation offers insights into young people's experiences of the Bazaar programme and their preferences for mental health support.
08 Sep 2025
Insight provided by: Open Door Charity.
-
Stories of Hope and Hardship from People Using Wirral Foodbank
A collection of stories and statements given by people using Wirral Foodbank across various locations. The insights include people's reasons for using the foodbank and their thoughts on what needs to be changed to end the need for foodbanks.
08 Sep 2025
Insight provided by: Beth Saunders, Community Organiser and Campaign Manager, Wirral Foodbank.
-
Wirral Residents' Sexual Health Outcomes and their Experiences and Preferences of Using Sexual Health Services
To support the development of Wirral Council’s commissioning plan for sexual and reproductive health services in Wirral, the Qualitative Insight Team gathered insights on people's experiences and preferences with sexual health service provision. Insights were gathered from 97 participants, including professionals and four target groups: young people (15–24), LGBTQIA+ communities, residents in areas with high levels of deprivation, and ethnic minority communities. Methods included focus groups, interviews, informal conversations, and participant observation. The insights highlight the gap between people’s knowledge of available services and their preferences for support.
08 Sep 2025
Insight provided by: Qualitative Insight Team, Public Health, Wirral Council.
-
Addiction Case Studies: Public Health Annual Report 2024–2025
The Qualitative Insight Team conducted in-depth interviews with people who have experience of addiction with alcohol, drugs, gambling and smoking/vaping to understand their experiences with addiction and recovery services in Wirral. The five case studies featured in Wirral Council’s Public Health Annual Report 2024–2025.
08 Sep 2025
Insight provided by: Qualitative Insight Team, Public Health, Wirral Council.
-
Using Ethnography and Partnership Working to Tackle Fuel Poverty
Qualitative insight researchers in Wirral Council’s Public Health team used ethnography to see and hear how Wirral residents are affected by fuel poverty, including those that may be hidden from the national statistics on fuel poverty. Researchers visited the homes of four residents and spent the day observing and asking about their day-to-day activities, including energy use, mealtimes and shopping. Residents described how fuel poverty was affecting many different aspects of their lives and shared their preferences for support.
08 Sep 2025
Insight provided by: Qualitative Insight Team, Public Health, Wirral Council.