The programme for the London Skills and Employment Convention on 29 March at the Church House Conference Centre, Westminster London is now available.

London is the engine of the UK economy, but many are not benefitting. Around one in three Londoners are out of work. London has the highest level of income inequality in the UK and more children living in poverty than anywhere else in Europe. In conjunction with this, we have now entered a new economic and social reality where growth is subdued and austerity and cuts prevail.

London’s Employment and Skills Convention, (less than a month after the Mayoral election), will bring together employers, delivery agencies, policy makers and organisations representing Londoners under one roof to discuss London’s challenges and opportunities in light of the prevailing challenges.

Up to 1,000 delegates from across the UK and internationally, gather to hear the latest developments, share experiences and discuss best practice in welfare to work.

We all need to know about what is working, innovation in policy and delivery, and how welfare reform will affect us. The Work Programme is one year old, what have been the lessons of the first year?

Inclusion’s Centre for Responsible Credit is currently researching local authority plans to implement the localisation of elements of the Social Fund from April 2013. The Social Fund provides on-off financial support for low income households for a number of emergency expenses. From April 2013, the government will abolish the existing Social Fund scheme. The current levels of expenditure on Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans Social Fund elements will be paid as non-ringfenced grants to upper tier local authorities and to the Scottish and Welsh Assembly government. Community Care Grants currently support people with disabilities, lone parents and those at risk or moving out of institutional care. Crisis Loans tend to go to the long-term unemployed. We are keen to obtain views on current thinking about the local models of delivery which will be put in place to support vulnerable groups once budgets are devolved.

The first stage of the research involves an on-line survey to gather information about local authority plans, which are likely to be at an early stage, together with perspectives on the barriers to implementation. The survey will also be used to assess the diversity of approaches currently being taken, including the different lead departments involved and the extent of relevant partnership working taking place around the issue. The Centre for Responsible Credit will also use the survey to help identify a small sample of authorities with which they can work in more detail moving forwards.

After the initial research, The Centre for Responsible Credit has a budget to conduct qualitative research with low income households in the selected authority areas to better understand their views on the proposed models of local support. The Centre for Responsible Credit will also be able to undertake research with local credit unions in these areas in order to determine the extent to which they can complement the proposed models.
The online survey is available here until 25th May.

If you would like further information please contact Damon Gibbons by emaildamon [dot] gibbons [at] cesi [dot] org [dot] uk) or Helen Crowtherhelen [dot] crowther [at] cesi [dot] org [dot] uk).

The Vocational Rehabilitation Association’s annual conference will be taking place on 22nd and 23rd May 2012 in Birmingham. This is a key event for all those in VR and the allied health professions and has a particular emphasis on growth and personal development.  Attending the full two day conference can cost as little as £240 including accommodation.

22nd May 2012

Blackburne House, Liverpool

An Inclusion North West Convention