This seminar deals with the practical steps local authorities can take to ameliorate poverty in their local areas. Beginning with scene-setting overviews of the impacts of welfare reform and squeezed wages for those in work, this seminar will go on to look at fairness commissions, local living wage campaigns, support in welfare-to-work, and crisis interventions like food banks.
The seminar will cover:
- the impact of welfare reform on household finances
- trends and projections for low pay
- fairness Commissions
- local Living Wage campaigns
- welfare to work
- crisis interventions
The seminar will give delegates the chance to exchange good practice and gain new insights into successful local anti-poverty campaigns and policies and actions for the amelioration of poverty. The seminar will also be an opportunity to test views about establishing a local councils network around these issues.
Programme
9:30 Registration and refreshments
9:55 Introduction and overview to the day; Andrew Jones and Alan Waters
10:20 Understanding the local impacts of welfare reform; Tony Wilson, Policy Director, Inclusion
11:00 Trends and projections in incomes to 2017: the outlook for the ‘squeezed middle’; Conor D’Arcy, Researcher, Resolution Foundation
11:40 Break
11:55 Action on poverty: from corporate strategy to practical delivery; Cllr Sarah Hayward, Leader of the Council, LB Camden
12:35 -13:10 Food Banks: Supply creating demand? Adrian Curtis, Foodbank Network Director, Trussell Trust
13:10 Lunch
13:50 The Islington Fairness Commission; Cllr Andy Hull, LB Islington (Executive Member for Finance and Performance and formerly chair of Islington Fairness Commission)
14:25 The Brighton Living Wage Campaign; Tracy Allen, Brighton Chamber of Commerce (Living Wage Campaign Manager)
15:15 A role for local government in ‘Welfare to Work’? Navjot Johal, Coventry City Council
16:00 Final comments
16:15 Close
This programme is correct at the time of publication be may be altered to reflect speaker changes that are beyond our control.
