Quantitative data
To support the research, we looked at existing national and local data about work and health. This included information from the Department of Work and Pensions, the Annual Population Survey, and the 2021 Census.
We used this data to:
- Understand how many people in Somerset and across the UK are not working because of long-term health conditions or disabilities.
- Compare Somerset’s situation with the national picture.
- Explore the main reasons why people of working age (16–64) in Somerset are not in employment.
Qualitative data - Focus groups and interviews
Recruitment: Community Co-Research Organisations
An advert asking for Co-Research Organisations was shared via the Somerset Council Economy, Workforce and Skills network. Fifteen organisations expressed interest in being involved, and 13 chose to be involved in the project. Each organisation was asked to have conversations with up to ten people about their experiences of long-term health conditions/disabilities and unemployment. Before data collection started, the Community Participation (CP) team held online briefing sessions with the Co-Research Organisations to answer any questions and discuss the research processes and stages. Co-Research Organisations were remunerated for their involvement in the study.
Recruitment: Research Participants
Participant inclusion criteria:
- A range of people aged 16-64.
- Live in Somerset.
- Living with a long-term health condition and/or disability.
- Not in paid employment or actively seeking employment.
Participants provided informed consent verbally or by completing a physical or online consent form before data collection. They could share their experiences through group or one-to-one conversations or a survey. Conversations were recorded by Microsoft Teams or using a digital audio recorder provided by the Somerset HDRC. As a thank you for taking part, participants were remunerated with a £20 Love2Shop voucher.
Research ethics
The research was approved by the University of the West of England, Bristol (UWE) Research Ethics Committee.
Data Analysis
Audio recordings were transcribed and anonymised by the Somerset HDRC team. Participant ID codes were applied, and any identifiable information was removed. Anonymised transcripts were then thematically analysed by the team, using software to manage and coordinate the process.
The early key themes with sub-themes were discussed and sense-checked with LEAP and COAP members. This ensured that study findings and recommendations reflect real-world experiences, which benefit communities.