Title

Date

Start Time

Duration

Preventing debt and homelessness this winter: impact case studies from leading organisations Record levels of temporary accommodation, rising arrears and deepening financial vulnerability are driving more people towards homelessness this winter. Many are already in debt or at risk of falling into it, yet millions of people across the UK are not receiving the support they are entitled to.

Frontline services are under immense pressure. Local authorities are working with shrinking budgets, while financial organisations are managing increased risk and exploring ways to support vulnerable customers more effectively.

The webinar will focus on how councils, third-party organisations and financial institutions such as Nationwide are using data and proactive support to prevent households from reaching crisis point.

Speakers will include:
- Glyn Ashman from the London Borough of Hackney who will discuss the council’s campaign to support residents in temporary housing who are in arrears
- Ian Cheatle from Nationwide, who is the first financial services provider to launch a free telephone benefits calculator service, helping people understand and claim the support they are entitled to while tackling digital exclusion

By acting earlier, organisations can reduce harm and deliver better outcomes for customers, residents and communities.

Join us to hear:
• How organisations are using data to identify households at risk of debt or homelessness before crisis hits
• How proactive support can help people access the financial support they’re entitled to and improve resilience
• Examples of prevention campaigns and pilots demonstrating measurable impact for both residents and customers

26/11/2025

10:30am GMT

1.3 hours

Review of 2025 in policy and practice: From data to impact As 2025 draws to a close, join us as we review the policy developments, sector wide challenges and practical successes that have shaped the past year.

From rising arrears and shrinking local budgets to major reforms to disability benefits and the continued impact of the cost of living crisis, 2025 has brought fresh pressure on low income households and the organisations that support them.

At the same time, many councils, housing providers, utilities and charities have stepped up with data-led approaches to drive targeted support, often against the odds.

We’ll revisit the key policy changes that defined the year and share insights from our work with partners across sectors.

We’ll also highlight findings from our landmark analysis of Council Tax Reduction schemes, which revealed worrying trends but also pointed the way toward more effective, fairer support for households struggling with arrears.

Through case studies, data and real world examples, we’ll celebrate the tangible impact our clients have had in their communities and look ahead to what 2026 may bring.

Join us to:

- Explore the key policy developments and sector challenges that shaped 2025
- Hear highlights from our work on Council Tax Reduction, unclaimed support and safeguarding
- Hear inspiring case studies from organisations that used data to drive impact in 2025, and what they see in store for 2026

10/12/2025

10:30am GMT

1.3 hours

Overcoming the data disconnect in safeguarding Too often, vulnerable people are only identified when it is already too late. Safeguarding professionals are forced to make decisions with only part of the picture, as crucial information is spread across disconnected services and systems. This makes it harder to spot risks, see patterns or act early, leading to delayed or inappropriate support.

In this webinar, we’ll explore how councils and safeguarding partners are tackling this challenge by improving the way data is shared and used. You’ll hear about practical approaches to using daily, structured data feeds to inform decisions, identify concerns earlier and support coordinated prevention work across teams.

We’ll also look at real life examples of how better access to safeguarding data is already helping professionals to take timely, more targeted action, and how they are beginning to evidence impact.

28/1/2026

10:30am GMT

1.3 hours

City of York Council tackles pension poverty using data

In 2023, one in five pensioners in Yorkshire faced poverty, with rising demand for social care services. Many pensioners struggled to afford care costs due to limited income and low awareness of support, leaving over £3.7 million in Pension Credit unclaimed in York each year.

City of York Council launched a targeted Pension Credit campaign using the Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) platform to identify eligible residents and maximise their income. The initiative enabled cross team collaboration, reaching hundreds of households and improving financial security for pensioners.

Figures correct as at December 2024

£2.6 million

lifetime impact of camapign

£230,800

Pension Credit secured

£5,600

average claim per household

£50,800

backdated Pension Credit claimed

£8,200

Winter Fuel Payment secured

This Pension Credit Campaign has helped combat rising pensioner poverty and adult social care costs by bringing money to the pockets of pensioners across the area. LIFT has made it possible to execute a campaign of this magnitude with accuracy and ease.

What challenge(s) have you faced this past year?

With so many missing out on support, the council saw the importance of officers working across teams to balance workload and avoid double contacting the same residents. Together, the Income Services and Community Teams came together to launch a Pension Credit campaign to maximise income for vulnerable residents and make sure those that need adult care support can afford the best care they can.

What led you to choose Policy in Practice’s product to address your challenges?

Combined datasets, together with Policy in Practice’s Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) platform’s built in expert policy engine, painted a clearer picture of benefits eligibility and poverty indicators that can help officers deliver support and find local partners who can help.

LIFT allowed the council to identify over 360 households that were missing out on Pension Credit. Monthly LIFT team meetings also allowed officers to collaborate together in their outreach strategy and manage demand for council resources.

The Income Services team then contacted 150 pensioners who had social care packages and were eligible for Pension Credit. The Community team worked with the remaining residents without care packages. They partnered with voluntary community sector partners like AgeUK to provide face to face support in the wards with high eligibility and deprivation.

What success have you had, or expect to have, as a result of using your Policy in Practice product?

Since the campaign’s launch in April 2024, 41 pensioner households in York have claimed over £230,800 in Pension Credit.

So far:

over £5,600 has been claimed by each household, on average
nearly £50,800 in backdated Pension Credit for those eligible has been claimed
an extra £8,200 in Winter Fuel Payment (using £200 as the average value of WFP) was given to eligible households

Factoring in life expectancy and passported benefits, the lifetime impact of the campaign is over £2.6 million.

Want to know more about what City of York Council did?

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