We wanted to make you aware of our upcoming Children Missing Education Digital Conference taking place online on Tuesday 26th September, and that the Early Bird discount is expiring next Friday, 23rd June. Join us to explore government policy and next steps to identify and safeguard children who go missing from school and support those unable to access education. Use code EARLY4030 for 20% off.

Keeping children in full-time education is the best way to equip young people with the skills they will need later in life. However, The Children’s Commissioner has expressed concern that an unidentifiable number of children across the country are not able to access education; the number of reported ‘Children Missing Education’ and ‘severe absence’ cases are still yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.

How can you address the key challenges, such as persistent/severe absence that damage future prospects and lead to Children Missing Education? Tackle the underlying barriers to attendance and deliver tailored support to help vulnerable young people stay in education.

Understand how life outside of school can impact student engagement and gain practical takeaways to support students experiencing emotional based school avoidance. Hear from mental health and attendance experts to gain insight on how to create inclusive educational environments that meet the needs of all pupils.

Understand how data can be used to identify Children Missing from Education and best optimise targeted support for your most vulnerable students. We will explore how you can improve safeguarding practices and ensure effective multi-agency collaboration.

Wherever you are in your journey to help Children Missing Education, join this event to keep up to date and connect with peers who are working towards direct and long-lasting change.

View Agenda <https://www.westminsterinsight.com/events/children-missing-in-education-digital-conference/?booking_code=email3T-3762834>

Book Now <https://www.westminsterinsight.com/events/children-missing-in-education-digital-conference/book/?booking_code=email3T-3762834>           

Webinar: Tuesday, June 20th 2023

There are approximately 412,395 charities in the UK, including 169,000 charities registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Charities employ around 950,000 people, almost three percent of the total UK workforce and generating a combined annual income of over £83 billion. However, the financial resilience of the charity sector was significantly weakened by the turbulence of the Covid-19 pandemic, as the proportion of charities with an income of more than £500,000 with no or negative free reserves tripled, from 9% to 28%, between April 2020 and July 2021. 25% of UK charities lost 40% of their income in 2020, with a £10 billion reduction in the sector and 60,000 job losses in the 2020/21 financial year. The cost-of-living crisis has served to further increase the pressure on charities. As demands have increased and economic uncertainty has surged, many charities have been forced to curtail or shut down operations. Furthermore, 2022 saw the lowest number of new charities registered with the Charity Commission since 1989.

In February 2022, the government’s Charities Act, which aims to ease the struggles encountered by many in the sector, receiving royal assent. Long-term savings are expected as a result of the Charities Act. The Act aims to tackle red tape, removing administrative and legal burdens which are currently placed on charities so as to save both money and time. The measures were proposed in response to the Law Commission’s 2017 report, ‘Technical Issues in Charity Law’. The Act contains five key elements: not only are updates to governing documents and land disposal made easier, but charities also now have greater flexibility with regard to permanent endowments, are able to pay trustees for goods provided, and have been given the ability to spend small donations without contacting individual donors for permission. According to the government, these provisions could save the charity sector £2.8 million a year and £28 million over the next decade.

Whilst the Act has been welcomed across the charity sector for the increased flexibility which it provides and the removal of much bureaucratic procedure, some have suggested that it is a missed opportunity to make fundamental reforms which could further support the sector. Such challenges have largely concerned the position and status of the Charity Commission, as the regulator must currently defer to the attorney general, requiring permission in order to fully exercise its powers. Some have suggested that the Act has failed to rectify these issues, and as such has left the sector with a ‘relatively weak regulator, which is heavily burdened and not well resourced’. Additionally, many charities have warned that rising demand could leave them struggling to cope, calling for greater investment in skills and more collaboration between charities, government and business so as to ensure resilience throughout more challenging periods. Critics also highlight that charities are increasingly having to take up roles previously carried out by the State.

This symposium is, therefore, a timely opportunity to assess opportunities for progress in the charity sector, evaluate the implementation and impact of the Charities Act and formulate strategies for a resilient future.

Programme

• Assess existing legislation affecting the charity sector and identify key challenges facing charities in the UK
• Evaluate the Charities Act 2022, its implementation and impact, and discuss opportunities for further legislative reform 
• Examine the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on charities across the UK, and share best practice for ensuring financial sustainability and dealing with rising demand amid stretched resources
• Discuss the support provided to charities by the government and suggest methods to more effectively address challenges
• Review the role of the Charity Commission in regulating the operations of charities and discuss ideas for strengthening the Commission’s powers
• Formulate strategies for ensuring the resilience of the charity sector
• Examine the role of charities and the activities, functions and services that charities carry out, which previously had been performed by the State, and discuss the most effective means of meeting needs
• Identify methods for improving and maintaining public trust and confidence in UK charities
• Discuss how better collaboration between charities, government and business might improve resilience
• Explore opportunities for greater use of technology by charities, considering the benefits of increased efficiency

To register for the briefing, please click here.

‘Neighbourhood’ The International Journal of Neighbourhood Renewal is pleased to announce that it is holding its Annual Conference for 2023 in London on the 16th and 17th November.  This two day event is an ideal opportunity to hear of a range of key developments and research in the field of urban regeneration and neighbourhood and community renewal.  There will be up to 20 informative speakers for the Conference and up to 20 organisations showcasing their work in this field of policy.  If you would like to attend please email here Registration fees to attend are as follows:

£295 Standard rate.

£145 for Voluntary Organisations and Community Groups

£95 for Students

If you want to submit a presentation or paper to present to the Conference please send in a proposal, draft paper or title here  All Papers presented at the Conference will be featured in the December 2023 Edition of the Journal of Neighbourhood Renewal.   In addition all attendees at the Conference will receive a free annual subscription to the Journal of Neighbourhood Renewal. 

If your Organisation would like to showcase your urban and neighbourhood regeneration work at the Conference we do have 20 spaces available as these are priced at:

£795 Standard rate.

£295 for Voluntary Organisations and Community Groups.

If you require a Display Space please just drop us an email here

Details of the Conference will appear as the weeks progress on its website.

Website  IJNR The International Journal of Neighbourhood Renewal – neighbourhood renewal urban planning research policy practice (wordpress.com)

 

 

 

Our popular Antisocial Behaviour Conference returns online this September. Attend Westminster Insight’s Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour Digital Conference to hear from senior stakeholders, policy makers and practitioners who are currently tackling ASB:

Wednesday 20^th September 2023
09:00 – 13:00

During 2022, England & Wales’s police forces received 1,039,579* crime reports about anti-social behaviour. Anti-social behaviour cannot be left unchallenged. With the launch of the new Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, it is vital that agencies know how to tackle ASB and how to work together to prevent these crimes. Attend Westminster Insight’s Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour Digital Conference to hear theRt Hon Chris Philp, Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire, and responsible for ASB. He will discuss next steps for implementation and explore the implications of the ASB plan for multi-agency partners.

Learn how to manage and utilise available resources as you will hear from housing, local council, and policing and criminal justice sectors on their remit to tackle ASB. Use this conference to gain practical insights on information sharing, case management, and early intervention. Swift intervention can prevent behaviour escalating to a more serious level, and reduce the impact on victims. You will listen to the experiences of victims of ASB including Baroness Newlove, Former Victims Commissioner, and learn what your organisation can do to improve approaches to tackling ASB in the future. Gain practical insights from case studies on how to effectively include victims, communities and perpetrators in solutions and prevent ASB in the long-term. Don’t miss the opportunity to use our digital platform to ask questions to speakers, and network with colleagues.

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Keep up to date with the constantly evolving nature of County Lines at our upcoming half-day digital conference taking place on Tuesday 18th July.

Join us online at this well-established biannual event to hear the latest best practice and strategies from leading experts across the country. Find out how your organisation can help prevent county lines activity and provide appropriate support to victims and those at risk of criminal exploitation. Learn about disrupting County Line networks through intelligence-led policing and inter-agency collaboration.

With the rising cost of living, criminals are increasingly exploiting children from families who are struggling to make ends meet.  Over the last six months there has been an increase in the use of social media by county lines gangs. Content resembling professionally produced job adverts have been appearing on Instagram and Snapchat to entice young people into county lines activity.

Gain key insights into the latest models used by perpetators to groom children and young people, and the changing profile of those being targeted.  Hear directly from young people  with  lived experience of County Lines drug smuggling and gang involvement.

With inspiring presentations from  frontline services working with vulnerable young people and adults including schools, youth services, social services and housing, you will learn how to identify exploitation and intervene at an early opportunity to divert young people away from gangs.

Further information & booking