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

Gravesham Council helps pensioners to secure over £184,000 in unclaimed benefits

CLIENT:
Gravesham Council

SECTOR:
Local Authority

PRODUCTS USED:
LIFT platform

Product brochure

The challenge

With limited resources and an increase in work during the pandemic, it has been difficult for Gravesham Council’s Benefits team to maintain engagement with their low-income residents to ensure they are maximising their benefit take-up.

The team have also had to establish ways to allocate their remaining Covid-19 funding to best support their most vulnerable residents through the pandemic.

The solution

In a first for local government, Kent county and district councils collaborated by sharing their data to get insights that are helping them to tackle poverty across the county. Gravesham Council is part of this trailblazing approach.

Gravesham Council has been impressed by demonstrations of the LIFT platform in the past. It already had a lot of potential, which was only magnified in light of the new challenges they have faced recently. Other local authorities in Kent have been using the product with great success and Gravesham were keen to get on board. By purchasing LIFT they have been able to collaborate across the county, with those other local authorities, to address those challenges and achieve their goals.

The impact

Gravesham Council’s targeted Discretionary Housing Payment campaigns have allowed them to retain tenancies and prevent homelessness for those who may not have otherwise been aware of the scheme. The data in the LIFT platform gives the team a better picture of a person’s affordability before they even apply, so they can target their highest-risk residents and offer them further support.

Thanks to LIFT they have managed to reach and provide support to a disabled resident and prevented him from falling into rent arrears in his long-term home by awarding him a Universal Credit housing costs top-up.

In addition to this, they have raised over £184,000 in additional annual income for their pension-aged cohort thanks to their Pension Credit campaigns to date.

During 2022/2023 when the team aims to implement their new Council Tax Reduction scheme, they anticipate that the LIFT product will be instrumental in monitoring the impact and supporting their residents through the changes.

We have had a great experience working with Policy in Practice to date. Officers in all areas of the authority at various levels have had nothing but good things to say about the LIFT platform and the potential it holds for us as an authority. We are keen to do more with the product in the near future.

Katie Hayes, Special Projects and Support Officer, Gravesham Borough Council