Conference diary

Welcome to our Conference Diary. Below is a summary of our upcoming events and details of events that we have held over the past couple of months.

28 March 2012 | One-day conference | Supporting homeless people into work
12 March 2012 | Webinar | Guidance on the welfare entitlements for EEA nationals: Enabling agencies to respond to the needs of these individuals who are sleeping rough
28 February 2012 | Free Half Day Conference | Sustaining Homelessness Services

8 December 2011 | Free event | Welfare reform:  what will the coalition government do to support vulnerable people to be more economically and socially independent?
6 December 2011 | Free webinar | Welfare reform: impact of the changes to the Shared Accommodation Rate
30 November 2011 | Free event | Supporting homeless people with complex needs
29 November 2011 | Free webinar | Responding to the cuts for local authorities: keeping homelessness in the picture.

National conference: Supporting homeless people into work

Wednesday 28 March 2012 | London | More information

Working is one of the primary routes out of poverty and out of homelessness.

The benefits of working are far wider than just financial ones, both for the community as well as the individual. Working can significantly contribute to the recovery and resettlement of an individual, improving their health, self-esteem and social standing. Whilst society benefits from greater social cohesion, a more appropriate use of medical services and prevention of intergenerational worklessness.  This event will explore how we can increase the number of homeless people who find paid employment.

This event will look at how to:

• Engage more successfully with employers.
• Offer relevant employability and soft skills training to meet job requirements.
• Provide appropriate support once someone is working to help them retain their employment.
• Access the opportunities presented by the Work Programme.
• Prepare for and work within the new welfare system.
• Offer credible qualifications that improve outcomes for clients.
• Overcome the barriers to employment experienced by homeless people.

More information and booking
For more information or to book your place, please click here.

webinar: guidance on the welfare entitlements for eea nationals

Monday 12 March 2012 | 10-11am | More information

This webinar will enable local authorities and homelessness agencies to respond to the needs of non-UK European Economic Area (EEA) nationals who are rough sleeping. It will provide a summary of the entitlement available and an overview of what a local strategic response should be to best support these individuals.

More information and booking
For more information or to book a place, please click here.

FREE event: sustaining homelessness services: CAN YOU PROVE YOUrs is NEEDED?

• sustain funding and services
• improve the support offered to clients
• identify gaps in service provision
• prove the value of  their service to new funders

FREE event: welfare reform

Thursday 8th December 2011 | Norwich

What will the coalition government do to support vulnerable people to be more economically and socially independent?

This event was jointly hosted by Homeless Link and the Crisis Welfare Network; a national programme that is investigating how the Government’s welfare to work strategies are either helping or hindering vulnerable people into employment and/or training.

This event offered an opportunity for agencies from the East of England to look in detail at the changes around welfare reform and DWP Work Programme and to share knowledge of the impact that these are having on the ground.

Programme highlights:

• A Person Centred Approach – Barry Allard, Norwich LEAP
• The DWP Work Programme – Paul Anders, Homeless Link
• Welfare Reform – Michael Fothergill, Crisis
• Ample opportunity to meet fellow professionals from the voluntary and statutory sectors

FREE webinar: Welfare reform: impact of the changes to the Shared Accommodation Rate

Tuesday 6 December 2011 |  10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

This free webinar looked at the impact of the changes to the shared accommodation rate on services. The accommodation rate restricts the amount of housing benefit someone can receive because of their age. From the 1 January 2012, the age restriction has been increased from under 25 years to under 35 years.

This webinar helped you to understand:

• what these changes will mean to you and your clients
• what exemptions exist
• how to provide evidence to show someone is exempt
• if your service is eligible for these exemptions

For more information:
Please contact Alice Evans should you have any queries on 020 7840 4421 or by email: alice.evans@homelesslink.org.uk

free event: Supporting homeless people with complex needs

Wednesday 30 November 2011 | 9.30 - 13.00pm | London

This free event:

• Updated delegates on recent research findings around homelessness and complex needs.
• Improved the homelessness sector’s awareness of work going on with people with complex needs.
• Improved partnership working between the homelessness and drug, alcohol and mental health sectors.
• Improved knowledge, skills and good practice when supporting homeless people with complex needs.

Presentations from the event

Complex Needs: Complex Lives Research - Helen Keats (DCLG)
Making Every Adult Matter - Turning the Tide Vision Paper - Anna Page (Revolving Doors)
Creating a Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE) - Claire Ritchie (LB Lambeth), Lisa Hayes (Thames Reach)

Workshop notes from the event

Psychologically Informed Environments (PIEs)
Managing a Project for People with Complex Needs Workshop Notes and Workshop Handout
Responding to people with Complex Needs - Promoting Good Practice In-House Workshop Notes
Partnership Working to Support People with Complex Needs
Broadway - The Old Theatre Supporting Clients and Staff

More information:
For more information, please contact Jane.Bancroft@homelesslink.org.uk.

FREE webinar: Responding to the cuts for local authorities: keeping homelessness in the picture

 Tuesday 29 November 2011 | 10.00 - 11.00 am

This free webinar talked delegates through how you can keep your commitment to No Second Night Out and a focus on ending homelessness despite the cuts. The session looked at:

• the cost benefit analysis of reducing rough sleeping and homelessness
• how to make best use of resources locally to identify and support rough sleepers
• simple measures to meet the No Second Night Out standard
• learning from other areas that have adopted the standard.

Homeless Link research has shown that cuts to funding are having a negative impact on services for people who are homeless in the UK. The same research indicated that services were expecting further reductions of up to 48% in funding in 2011-2012. This webinar explored how we can continue to support those who are homeless despite these cuts.

For more information:
Please contact Jessica Plant should you have any queries on 020 7840 4419 or by email: jessica.plant@homelesslink.org.uk

FREE event: sustaining homelessness services: CAN YOU PROVE YOUrs is NEEDED?

16 November 2012| London| More information

Half-day, free event that supports agencies to evidence the need for their service, demonstrate their impact, and improve service delivery.

It is important that the homelessness sector demonstrates its impact. Collecting good quality information about your service enables you to show the value and need for your service to commissioners and funders. It also allows you to identify gaps in service provision that can be met to improve the support you offer to your clients.

This conference helped delegates to:

• sustain funding and services
• improve the support offered to clients
• identify gaps in service provision
• prove the value of  their service to new funders

For more information, please view the event programme.

Severe Weather Emergency Protocol and extended cold weather provision

10 October 2011 | Free online webinar | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM BST

This free webinar talked you through the new piece of guidance on Severe Weather Emergency Protocol and extended cold weather provision. Itl help guide local authorities and agencies to provide appropriate responses to homeless people during the cold and severe weather period.

CONFERENCE QUERIES

If you have a query regarding any of our conferences, please get in touch:

Kate Alaway, Conference & Events Manager:
020 7840 4461
events@homelesslink.org.uk

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