UPDATE

All places are booked up for Welfare Reform: the Reality, a joint conference of Northern Ireland Advice Services Consortium and NICVA  examining the practical implementation of welfare reform in England and Scotland.

When? 29 October, 9.30am to 1.30pm

Where? Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, Duncairn Gardens, Belfast

Hosted by Karen Patterson, the conference will give members of the voluntary and community sector an opportunity to hear from, and directly engage with the newly appointed Minister for Social Development, Mervyn Storey.

It will focus on the reality of how the reforms have impacted on people in England and Scotland and draw out any lessons for Northern Ireland. It will also hear from local advice workers on the issues and concerns of their clients in Northern Ireland.Steve Cullen, Chief Executive of Warrington CAB, will speak about the on the ground impact of Welfare Reform. Warrington is one of the pathfinder areas for Universal Credit.

Conference Agenda

Hosted by Karen Patterson

Welcome and opening remarks from Seamus McAleavey, Chief Executive NICVA       

Minister for Social Development Mervyn Storey MLA - setting out where we are now and next steps. Introduced by Ursula O'Hare, Law Centre (NI)

Social Fund Commissioner for Northern Ireland, Karamjit Singh CBE - discussing the Social Fund in devolved regions and options for NI.

Steve Cullen, Chief Executive of Warrington CAB - Warrington is a Universal Credit Pathfinder Area, discussing the on the ground impact of welfare reform.

Lynn Williams, Policy Officer, SCVO - to outline Scotland’s experience of welfare reform

Mary McManus, Manager, East Belfast Independent Advice Centre. Will outline frontline experiences of welfare reform as an advice worker in Northern Ireland.

Discussion/question and answers

Close for lunch

For a twitter conversation on the day:#WRNI14

 *Northern Ireland Advice Services Consortium (NIASC) is an umbrella body comprising Law Centre (NI), Advice NI and Citizens Advice NI.