Reflections on Law Centre NI's Annual Social Security Conference
On Tuesday 10th March, Law Centre NI was delighted to host our Annual Social Security Conference. Bringing together representatives and organisations from across the advice sector, this practitioner led conference provided the latest updates on social security law, policy and practice. Through presentations and workshops delivered by our team, delegates were provided with the opportunity to share practical tools, learning and insights to develop evidence-based solutions to complex social security matters.
The entire social security team was represented at the event, contributing to its success.
Reflecting upon this successful event, we have outlined a number of our key takeaways:
- The advice sector must receive sufficient investment, to allow for specialist, independent, accurate and timely intervention to be provided across NI.
As a long standing priority of LCNI, we continue to call for the advice sector to receive enhanced and sustained investment to meet the increasing demand upon services. This is essential to ensure that the sector can continue to provide support to individuals and communities across Northern Ireland through free, independent and specialist advice.
- The importance of championing rights-based policy reform
Amidst a challenging social policy landscape, there remains an urgent need for the advice sector to continue to have an important role in championing rights-based policy reform. Reflecting upon experience and expertise is critical in moving the dial to achieve policy solutions to support those who are most in need and achieve positive policy outcomes.
- The need to provide evidence-based solutions through a collaborative approach
As a regional support organisation, we are proud to work alongside front line advice organisations to support clients across Northern Ireland. Sharing knowledge, learning and expertise is critical to support these clients through evidence based solutions in challenging incorrect decisions, ensuring the law is interpreted and applied correctly, and that ensuring that complex social security issues are understood and communicated effectively.
- The intersection of immigration and social security law
Many migrants across Northern Ireland face challenges and barriers when accessing the social security system, which is further compounded by the adverse impacts of poverty, destitution and insecure work. It is due to these challenges that there remains an important role for the advice sector in assisting migrants through this complex system.
At the conference, we further took the opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the role in which the advice sector has undertaken in achieving a significant ‘slice of justice’ – the removal of the two-child limit. As a long-standing policy priority of Law Centre NI, we are proud to have played our part in securing this positive policy outcome alongside our sector colleagues which will make a significant contribution towards the eradication of poverty across Northern Ireland.
Delegates also had opportunity to share their feedback and comments on the conference, which incorporated some of the following reflections:
‘’Really enjoyable, would like to see more events like this’’
‘’Hope that there are others like me trying to help and effect change’’
‘’Engaging with Law Centre is worthwhile…’’
‘’The symbolic relationship between LCNI and front line advice’’
‘’How connected the sector is, and the extent to which different organisations can collaborate is amazing’’
‘’A very worthwhile conference’’
We would like to thank all who attended and contributed to our Conference to make this a valuable, meaningful and successful event.