Welfare Reform
Wednesday July 15th 2009, Victoria Park Plaza, 09:30 - 16:00
Welfare Reform: Creating a Welfare State Fit for the 21st Century
“The Government is increasing the real help available to everyone claiming benefits during the economic downturn. We will not leave anyone behind as we face up to the global financial crisis. This Bill will allow us to bring about the most radical reform of the welfare state for generations. When times are tough, it is more important than ever that we provide people with the extra help they need…Our reforms promise greater support for people on benefits and a more flexible, personalised system to help them find sustainable employment. In return we expect people to take up this help, and work with us to help themselves.”
James Purnell, Former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, January 2009
Overview
With UK unemployment rising above two million for the first time since 1997 the Welfare Reform Bill has greater significance for the Government and public. During the three months to January, the number of people unemployed totaled 2.03 million, up by 165,000, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Jobseekers are finding the market increasingly difficult given the effects of the economic downturn is having on business across the country.
The UK Government has committed to reforming the welfare system to ensure everyone who can work, does work. The Welfare Reform Bill will help tackle inequality of opportunity and improve employment outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged groups. The Welfare Reform Bill will further reform welfare and the benefit system to improve support and incentives for people to move from benefits into work, provide greater choice and control for disabled people.
The introduction of the Bill is a significant milestone in the Government’s welfare reform plans. A number of measures have already been introduced. For instance, the Employment and Support Allowance will facilitate the return to employment for those with the potential to work, who currently receive Incapacity Benefits.
In order to create a fairer benefits system and help those that can work, work it is important that they are equipped with the relevant and necessary skills to enter the workplace and sustain employment. As an outcome of the Leitch and Freud reviews, the government is keen to deliver a more integrated welfare service that brings employment and skills closer together. Better integration of the skills and employment agendas is central to ensuring improved outcomes for those who are most disadvantaged and furthest away from the labour market.
| 09:30 | Registration and Coffee |
| 10:30 | Chair’s Welcome Address Archy Kirkwood, House of Lords (CONFIRMED) |
| 10:40 | The Welfare Reform Bill: Implications and Successful Delivery
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| 11:00 | Working in Partnership to deliver Welfare Reform in a Period of Economic Slowdown
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| 11:20 | The Direction of Welfare Reform for the Next Decade
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| 11:40 | Coffee and Networking |
| 12:00 | Questions and Answers Session |
| 12:45 | Lunch and Networking |
| 13:45 | Evaluating City Strategy: Tackling Worklessness
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| 14:05 | Overcoming the Skills Gap
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| 14:25 | Coffee and Networking |
| 14:45 | Supporting homeless people into suitable, sustainable and progressive employment - The WILLOW project
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| 15:05 | Integrating Employment and Skills
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| 15:25 | Questions and Answers Session |
| 16:00 | Chair's Closing Remarks and Close |
*programme subject to change without notice
Audience
Delegates will be drawn from local authorities, welfare groups, private sector employment service providers, local, regional and national employment initiatives, Jobcentre Plus, LSPs, central government departments & bodies, regional development agencies, equality and diversity officers, social inclusion officers, youth offending teams, children’s trusts, corporate policy officers, trade unions, businesses and employers, academia and voluntary sectors.