Some thoughts on Housing Benefit Reform
Audioboo interviews from the Green Deal Workshop. Discussing both the merits and pitfalls of the Green Deal. read more
Workshop: Tackling cold calling
This discussion of the personalisation agenda opened with a general definition of personalisation: it's about fitting services around customers' needs, rather than customers fitting into services - "putting people first". It's meant to transform the way that services are delivered and involves a shift of power from service providers to users. read more
David Martin opened the workshop with an overview of what CAB's function is - to solve problems through giving advice and information but also be involved in changing policy and getting services delivered in different ways. The challenge, he said, is getting consumers, citizens and clients involved in the solutions. read more
The discussion of consumer empowerment for disabled clients who are in debt centered on research conducted by the Financial Inclusion Fund Disability Project, which is run by Camden Citizens Advice Bureaux Service in conjunction with RNIB , RNID , Contact a Family and MENCAP. FIF looked into the experiences of clients and the experience of [...] read more
In this workshop Richard Dunstan, social policy officer at Citizens Advice, presented his report Uncivil Recovery. He explains what the report is about in an article in the Guardian: Over the past decade, more than 600,000 people have received letters demanding money as “compensation” for their alleged shoplifting or employee theft – and threatening county [...] read more
When the web won’t work? Answering difficult questions.
Justice For All is the campaign “to ensure everyone is treated fairly under the law, no matter who they are, how much money they have, or where they live.” The problem is explained very clearly on their website: “Most people who need legal advice seek help – only half get it. 2.3 million people haven’t [...] read more
John Gladwin opens the second day of the Citizens Advice Bureau Conference with remarks outlining what it means to give 'power to the people'. read more
John Gladwin, Chair of CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau) Hannah Reed, TUC and Adam Sharples, DWP See more photos from the event on Flickr. read more
The opening debate was packed with a multi-sector audience, and the discussion continued on Twitter and beyond (see the Twitter conversation). read more
Not working? The work capability assessment for sickness benefits
The ‘shame factor’ – a lucrative business.
Can you be powerful if you are disabled and in debt?
It’s no fun living in a cold home…
An article from By Maeve McGoldrick from www.community-links.org. Community Links’ values include the line: “to appreciate that those who experience a problem understand it best.” That’s the ethos underpinning yesterday’s meeting with Employment Minister Chris Grayling... read more
Access for All
How can we escape ‘Breadline Britain’?
We’re on Twitter, Facebook and more - find us on your favourite networks to hear about our latest campaigning actions, advice issue concerns and Citizens Advice service news. You can help us by showing support on your networks for our campaigns and concerns. Click through to follow us or see where we are. read more
View the full set of CAB Social Policy & Stakeholders Conference photos on Flickr. If you have your own photos on Flickr just tag them cabp2p to add them to this collection. read more
Citizens Advice Bureau Social Policy & Stakeholders Conference
Citizens Advice is holding two conference events from 7th to 8th of March held at the QE II Conference Centre.
Power to the people?
Empowering consumers, citizens and clients in an age of austerity — a campaigner’s conference for the advice sector: 8th March 2011. Find out more.
Power to consumers
Consumer empowerment: Do consumers just need a nudge in the right direction or can they be empowered to make more informed decisions? — the Citizens Advice and NCF panel debate: 7 March 2011. Find out more.