Key topic areas covered include: Higher Education, Further Education & Skills, Secondary, and Primary & Early Years.

The Hidden Cost of Youth Violence: What Communities Lose When Young People Slip Through the Cracks

Youth violence is often discussed in moments of crisis. A headline. A police cordon. A court appearance. What’s rarely discussed is the costs this violence has on communities, individuals and economies. Behind every incident is usually a young person who didn’t suddenly 'go wrong', but gradually slipped through a series of cracks: in education, mental health support, youth services, housing, and community connection. The topics discussed in this article directly relate to the National Tackling Gang Crime, Violence and Weapon Crime Conference 2026, which was held on the 29th January 2026.

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Embedding Biodiversity and Community Into the Heart of Development: Lessons from The Land Trust

As the climate crisis deepens, sustainability has shifted from a niche concern to a core pillar of business strategy, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is redefining how the UK thinks about land use, planning and community development. Yet while legislation and metrics can guide the what of environmental policy, it’s the people and organisations behind implementation that bring the how to life. BNG is an approach to development that makes sure that habitats for wildlife are left in a measurably better state than they were before the development. It requires developments to result in at least a 10% increase in biodiversity compared to the pre-development state. This can be achieved on-site, through green infrastructure, off-site or a combination of both. Importantly, BNG is a mandatory requirement for most planning permissions in England.

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Developing a More Diverse and Modern Construction Industry: The CITB Case Study

Construction is one of the most male-orientated industries in the UK. Only around 15% of the construction workforce are women. CITB expects 251,500 extra construction workers will be needed by 2028 to meet the expected levels of work, so a push to engage more women in the industry will lead to a more efficient and diverse workforce. Julia Stevens from the CITB recently attended our Women in Construction Conference. She called for a renewed effort to break down the barriers and drive inclusion in construction. This article explores her keynote, the challenges women often face and the changes companies can make to more effectively engage and retain women.

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Financial Pressures at University: How Small Changes Can Make Big Differences

Life at university can be extremely stressful. Academic expectations are very high and rising house, food and transport costs are putting additional weight onto the burden of students. Financial issues have increased drastically alongside inflation and the cost of living crisis is impacting students deeply. In this article, Chloe Lockett, who works at the Students'​ Union at Bournemouth University - SUBU, explores her own experiences working at a major UK university and how the financial strains are impacting students' mental health. The work done by SUBU to support its students is commendable and highlights how change doesn’t need to cost a fortune - sometimes just having guidance can change people's experiences.

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AI Image Generation and Children: Protecting Our Most Vulnerable from AI

For most, AI image generation has been nothing more than a way to experiment and wonder at a powerful new tool, creating images that are often pretty or amusing. However, underneath this powerful tool is something sinister. The intersection of AI generation and sexual abuse is being exploited by offenders who are using it to create and distribute malicious content. According to the UK National Police Lead for AI, the largest criminal use of AI is by offenders creating child sexual abuse (CSA). The Preventing Child Abuse Conference took place on the 24th of June, and one of the impressive speakers in attendance was Hannah Swirsky from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), who detailed how the Internet Watch Foundation is devoted to stopping this harmful practice.

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Supporting Disadvantaged Students: ‘IntoUniversity’ and the Challenges of getting into Higher Education

How can we truly level the playing field for disadvantaged students? At our Supporting Disadvantaged Students in Higher Education Conference, Dr Emily Magrath from IntoUniversity shared powerful stories and practical solutions for breaking cycles of disadvantage. From early intervention to local collaboration, her insights reveal what’s working, where challenges remain, and how universities, charities and […]

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Tackling Extremism and Creating Connections: The Groundswell Project’s Three-Tier Approach

The UK saw a 41% rise in terrorism-related arrests in the UK from 2023-2024. This sparks the need for prevention and change. The Preventing and Tackling Extremism in the UK Conference looks at this in detail.

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Interview Series: Meet the Chair, Michael Sanders

We recently held the Local Government Technology Conference, in Westminster, London. It was an exciting day of learning, networking and interesting conversation. As most of our conferences are online, when we do get to meet people face-to-face, and host speakers in a physical space, it is a wonderful feeling. Seeing all of the conversations, the […]

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Interview Series: Sitting Down With Mandy Sanghera

We recently held the Local Government Technology Conference, in Westminster, London. It was an exciting day of learning, networking and interesting conversation. As most of our conferences are online, when we do get to meet people face-to-face, and host speakers in a physical space, it is a wonderful feeling. Seeing all of the conversations, the […]

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Mind in Motion: How Movement Transforms Mental Health at Work

In today’s fast-paced corporate world, conversations around mental health are no longer a luxury, they’re a necessity. At the forefront of this movement is Matt Balfour, a wellbeing content creator, public speaker, Samaritan volunteer, and the founder of Let’s Go Wellbeing. His mission is simple yet profound: to help organisations build healthier, more engaged workforces […]

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Improving Sepsis Detection and Patient Outcomes: The Power of Ward Champions and Training Innovation

Jay Townsend┃4 mins┃May 2025 In the ongoing effort to improve sepsis outcomes, education, collaboration and innovation remain crucial. With this in mind, Michael Nertney, Chair of the UK Sepsis Practitioner Forum and a clinical educator at South Tees NHS Foundation Trust, spoke at our recent Sepsis Patient Care Conference 2025. His session focused on enhancing […]

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Innovative SEND Inclusion Strategies for Mainstream Schools

Miss L. Stephen, Director of Learning Support at Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre, presented a case study on Enhancing Inclusion in Mainstream Schools, at the SEND Conference 2024. The session explored Homewood School's comprehensive approach to creating an inclusive environment for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in a mainstream setting.

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