Preventing debt and homelessness this winter: impact case studies from leading organisations

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.

Financial organisations are managing increased risk and exploring ways to support vulnerable customers more effectively, while local authorities are working with shrinking budgets.

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

Speakers will include:
- David Gil Welsh, Director of Pricing, Data and Analytics at Lantern Group, alongside Martin O'Donnell, CPO and Co-Founder of DebtStream. They will share how both organisations are supporting people in debt to access the benefits they are entitled to through built-in income maximisation in their collections process
- Ian Cheatle from Nationwide, 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
- Glyn Ashman, Income Maximisation Lead at the London Borough of Hackney, who will discuss the council’s campaign to support residents in temporary housing who are in arrears

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 vulnerable 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

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

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.

Financial organisations are managing increased risk and exploring ways to support vulnerable customers more effectively, while local authorities are working with shrinking budgets.

The webinar focused on how financial institutions, collections sector organisations and councils are using data and proactive support to prevent households from reaching crisis point.

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

Listen back to hear

Introduction: Sector challenges and income maximisation
Evolving to Meet the Needs of Today’s Customers: Digital-first support for financially vulnerable customers
Personal independence payment benefit take up campaign for temporary accommodation residents
Nationwide: Helping UK residents access their unclaimed benefits
Better Off platform: Typical use cases