Title	Date	Start Time	Duration	Register
Reducing barriers to work using data led campaigns In September 2023 the UK experienced an economic inactivity rate of 21.3% and an estimated unemployment rate of 4.3%, both of which have increased compared to previous data. Economic inactivity has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, prompting government efforts to integrate this group into the workforce. Historically, policies under Universal Credit and legacy benefits emphasised pushing people into employment through conditionality and short term measures. Today, both major political parties are exploring ways to facilitate return to work and eliminate barriers to employment. However, the government is also extending conditionality and adopting a tougher stance on sanctions for a broader range of people. Haringey is home to a young, ethnically diverse population. In June 2023, almost one fifth of those between 16 to 65 were on Universal Credit. Nearly 7% of residents over 16 were claiming unemployment related benefits, a figure above the London average of 4.7% and the 3rd highest rate of all UK councils Haringey Council wanted to find ways to overcome barriers to employment for young people and families with children and has used data to achieve success with its employment support programmes. Join this webinar to learn: - The new carrot and stick policy changes designed to break down barriers to work and reduce economic inactivity - What Haringey Council did to increase take up of free childcare for two year olds to 70% - How Haringey Council successfully helped 95 NEETs on their employment journey With guest speakers from Haringey Council	29/11/2023j/n/Y	10:30 GMT2023-11-29T10:30:00ZH:i T	1.3 hours	Register
Policy review of 2023 and what 2024 may hold Join our last webinar of 2023 to hear our policy analysts review 2023's policy changes and big issues, from the ongoing cost of living and energy crises to the funding of local government and the Autumn Statement. We will highlight our policy findings from the year including our work that revealed that millions of households across the UK are missing out on £19 billion of support each year. We'll look at the role that data is playing in helping leading organisations to tackle these issues. Through case studies of different types of households we'll look at what the changes mean for families now, and what 2024 has in store. Along the way we'll share the positive impact that organisations we work with are having, and give practical solutions that others can adopt.	6/12/2023j/n/Y	10:30 GMT2023-12-06T10:30:00ZH:i T	1.3 hours	Register
How the debt sector is connecting people to support	31/1/2024j/n/Y	10:30 GMT2024-01-31T10:30:00ZH:i T	1.3 hours	Register

Title

Date

Start Time

Duration

Reducing barriers to work using data led campaigns In September 2023 the UK experienced an economic inactivity rate of 21.3% and an estimated unemployment rate of 4.3%, both of which have increased compared to previous data. Economic inactivity has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, prompting government efforts to integrate this group into the workforce.

Historically, policies under Universal Credit and legacy benefits emphasised pushing people into employment through conditionality and short term measures. Today, both major political parties are exploring ways to facilitate return to work and eliminate barriers to employment. However, the government is also extending conditionality and adopting a tougher stance on sanctions for a broader range of people.

Haringey is home to a young, ethnically diverse population. In June 2023, almost one fifth of those between 16 to 65 were on Universal Credit. Nearly 7% of residents over 16 were claiming unemployment related benefits, a figure above the London average of 4.7% and the 3rd highest rate of all UK councils

Haringey Council wanted to find ways to overcome barriers to employment for young people and families with children and has used data to achieve success with its employment support programmes.

Join this webinar to learn:

- The new carrot and stick policy changes designed to break down barriers to work and reduce economic inactivity
- What Haringey Council did to increase take up of free childcare for two year olds to 70%
- How Haringey Council successfully helped 95 NEETs on their employment journey

With guest speakers from Haringey Council

29/11/2023

10:30 GMT

1.3 hours

Policy review of 2023 and what 2024 may hold Join our last webinar of 2023 to hear our policy analysts review 2023's policy changes and big issues, from the ongoing cost of living and energy crises to the funding of local government and the Autumn Statement.

We will highlight our policy findings from the year including our work that revealed that millions of households across the UK are missing out on £19 billion of support each year.

We'll look at the role that data is playing in helping leading organisations to tackle these issues.

Through case studies of different types of households we'll look at what the changes mean for families now, and what 2024 has in store.

Along the way we'll share the positive impact that organisations we work with are having, and give practical solutions that others can adopt.

6/12/2023

10:30 GMT

1.3 hours

How the debt sector is connecting people to support

31/1/2024

10:30 GMT

1.3 hours

Reimagine Debt

A proven approach to preventing debt that can be scaled across government

Challenge

Solution

Impact

The Cabinet Office’s Reimagine Debt pilot sought to prove whether proactive approaches are more effective in tackling debt and reducing arrears

LIFT pinpointed households in arrears eligible for the pilot. Policy in Practice tracked debt journeys and compared the impact of interventions with a control group

Arrears across all cohorts in the treatment group fell significantly and additional social impacts proven, alongside economic benefits for councils and families

A tale of debt prevention in two cities

Policy in Practice carried out analysis using the Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) platform. By identifying, analysing and tracking changes in household income and arrears on a monthly basis, councils improved customer engagement, targeted support proactively, and were able to see each customer’s journey on a single screen.

LIFT tracked 18 out of 28 households in Barking and Dagenham and 10 out of 20 in Newcastle. Both councils took different approaches to support their individual cohorts.

LIFT compared these households to a control group to show whether arrears fell more than similar households, and to prove the effectiveness of the intervention.

Read the full case study

50%

of households became totally arrears free in Newcastle

£174

Average arrears per household in Newcastle fell by

Outcomes for Newcastle City Council

Of the households LIFT tracked, the following outcomes were found:

Proportion of rent or council tax arrears greater than £250 fell from 18% to 8%
Average benefits income increased by £171 per month
Average rent and council tax arrears fell by £174
50% became wholly arrears free
Average earned income grew by £108 per month
Arrears fell by 3 times more in the treatment group than in the control group

Return on Investment: Newcastle City Council

Fiscal savings	£113,682
Economic savings	£61,415
Total savings	£175,097
Total cost	£6,873
Total benefit	£168,224
Return on Investment	24x

29%

Average arrears per household in Barking and Dagenham fell by

£1,216

Average arrears per household in Barking and Dagenham fell by

Outcomes for London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

Of the households LIFT tracked, the following outcomes were found:

The proportion of rent or council tax arrears greater than £250 fell from 74% to 58%
The average benefits income increased by £115 per month and average rent and council tax arrears fell by £1,216
The average income fell £124 per month, however three households (17%) became wholly arrears free
Arrears fell by £200 more in the treatment group than in the control group

Return on Investment: London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

Fiscal savings	£246,449
Economic savings	£78,835
Total savings	£325,284
Total cost	£9,545
Total Benefit	£315,739
Return on Investment	34x

“Often, residents have other challenges to deal with which can affect how they’re able to deal with the financial aspects of their lives. Proactive and holistic debt interventions can support them to do this, helping people to get back on their feet and have a more stable life.”

Claire Horton
Newcastle City Council

“Debt is not about numbers, debt is about people, behaviours and circumstances. We fix debt problems by focusing on people.”

Steve Coppard
Cabinet Office

Policy in Practice helped Newcastle City Council and London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in a Cabinet Office project, Reimagine Debt, which used data insights to deterimine the effectiveness of proactive approaches to tackling debt.

“Debt is almost always a symptom of a deeper challenge. Data allows you to quickly identify that there’s a problem, and face to face interaction allows you to get to tackle the root cause and find solutions.”

Mark Fowler
Barking and Dagenham