London Advice Conference 2010

Transformers - Changing lives through advice - update and resources

1 July 2010, Central London

On Thursday 1 July 2010, over 100 delegates from across the advice sector in London gathered at Clifford Chance in East London for Transformers: changing lives through advice, AdviceUK’s third annual conference in London. It was part of our new Policy and Voice initiative funded by London Councils and the Governance Project funded by Big Lottery Fund BASIS Programme and in partnership with the Law Centres Federation, London Advice Services Alliance (LASA) and Citizens Advice, who also supported and presented. AdviceUK was delighted by the turnout from across the boroughs in London as a range of advice area and size of member was represented. No event such as this is possible without the support of our partner organisations, our members and pro bono hosts, Clifford Chance. To access the key speaker presentations and workshop materials please click on their highlighted title below.

AdviceUK presented their third advice conference for members in London in partnership with Law Centres Federation (LCF), LASA and Citizens Advice. In the current economic climate, with the government set to announce £6 billion cuts, the advice sector must consider how investing in staff development can aid recruitment and retention and improve the quality of advice services and change the lives of clients.

The conference took place on 1 July in East London. This year's conference concentrated on how investing in staff development can improve the quality of your advice service and change the lives of your clients. It was an all day event and featured workshop sessions in the morning and afternoon on a range of advice service development and policy issues.

Details of the format for the day, the workshop sessions and funders panel are given below.

Further resources and workshop materials are linked below.

Keynote speakers:

• The labour market in London and the challenges ahead - Rilesh Jadeja, Head of External Relations, Job Centre Plus

• Engaging with the New World Order - James Allen, Senior Policy officer, NCVO

Post election/post budget analysis - Peter Lewis, Chief Executive, LVSC

Workshops will include:

Managing demand and change through innovation: with Margie Butler, Chief Executive, Mary Ward Legal Centre and Michael Ashe, Director, South West London Law Centres. The session will be chaired by Andy Gregg, Director, London Advice Services Alliance (LASA). Click here for this workshop's Conference report notes.
Accreditation and sector qualifications for advisers: Rachel Allan, Workforce Development Consultant and Kerry Herbert, Vocational Training and Assessment Worker, AdviceUK. Click here for the workshop handouts: Qualifications for the Advice Sector, National funding for training, National Funding for Workforce Development and Training and this workshop's Conference report notes.
The 3R's - Recruitment and retention of roles: Annie Clarke, Project Manager, Workforce Development & Training, AdviceUK. Click here for the workshop handouts: The 3R's presentation and The 3 Rs Delegate Agenda and this workshop's Conference report notes.
The critical relationship - the relationship between the Chair/Trustees and the Chief Executive: Wesley Harcourt, London Manager, AdviceUK and Jen Ball, Law Centres Federation. Click here for this workshop's Conference report notes.
The changing rules of the game: regulatory change for legal advice. Click here for this workshop's presentation and for this workshop's Conference report notes.
Employment Law update: Bates Wells and Braithwaite. Click here for this workshop's presentation and for this workshop's Conference report notes.
Legal Services Commission: Emma Archer, Relationship Manager, Regional Support, LSC. Click here for this workshop's presentation and for this workshop's Conference report notes.
Volunteer development and management. Click here for this workshop's Conference report notes.