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Local Policy Lab
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Bridging the gap between research and local policy
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Local Policy Lab
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Bridging the gap between research and local policy
What we do
The Local Policy Lab is a new alliance between the University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University and Oxfordshire County Council that aims to promote relationships and bridge the gap between research and local policy.
The Local Policy Lab's development is an initiative that will build meaningful and long-lasting connections between local public policy actors, communities and academic researchers
Why we do it
The University of Oxford’s ambitions to do more in the local community and to strengthen links and coordination with the county, city and district councils are stronger than ever. The Local Policy Lab aims to inform evidence-based policymaking in Oxfordshire and address health and climate inequalities locally.
- Connect University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes researchers with County and District Council policymakers, local volunteer and charity organisations, and with communities to support evidence-based public policy in key areas, initially focusing on health and climate policy, and;
- create opportunities for graduate students, supervised by academics and county officers, to work on existing datasets, collect new qualitative data, and undertake impact evaluations.
Local Policy Lab Fellowship 2024
The Local Policy Lab ran a pilot Fellowship Programme in partnership with the Oxford SDG Impact Lab and the University of Oxford’s Social Sciences Division. In its first year, the Local Policy Lab Fellowship Programme paired 19 Oxford graduate students with a policy partner to conduct research in the areas of climate and health. Research projects spanned from topics on green social prescribing to decarbonising local schools.
You can read more about the projects here.
Local Policy Lab Fellowship 2025
The Local Policy Lab Fellowship Programme continues, with its second year bringing together graduate students from the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University to work on live policy challenges in partnership with local government teams across Oxfordshire.
This year’s Fellows are delivering research in areas aligned with local strategic priorities, including early childhood education, Family Hub engagement, workforce diversity, financial resilience, access to green space, and health programme evaluation.
Project outcomes and insights from the 2025 Fellowship will be published in due course.
Get Involved!
Connecting research and policy for local impact
The Local Policy Lab brings together academic researchers and public sector leaders to co-produce research that addresses complex, place-based challenges across Oxfordshire. Our partnerships with local authorities and civic organisations create opportunities for students to embed within policymaking environments, generating insights that support equitable, evidence-based solutions.
From early childhood education to public health, financial resilience, climate adaptation, and beyond, Local Policy Lab projects are designed to reflect the priorities of the communities they serve. Fellows gain hands-on experience in applied policy research, while partners benefit from actionable insights, fresh perspectives, and a shared commitment to long-term impact.
Explore our Impact Book and Partners page to learn more about who we work with, what we’re working on, and the impact we’re creating together.
Interested in partnering with us in a future cohort?
Get in touch: Send an email
The Local Policy Lab is supported by the University of Oxford’s ESRC Impact Acceleration Account (ESRC IAA)
