Health & Social Care - Government Events

Behind the Statistics: Strangulation and the Reality of Violence Against Women

8 minute read

Feb 2026

Last year, violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the UK was declared a national emergency by the police. This violence is everything from domestic abuse, harassment and sexual assaults. It is estimated that 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse, and 1 in 3 women will suffer sexual assault in their lifetime. These statistics show the depth of this issue, and how important it is that changes are made to education, support and justice systems to ensure victims are protected. In 2022, new government legislation turned strangulation and suffocation from being included in charges like assault or bodily harm into stand-alone offences which can be punished accordingly. It highlighted the growing realisation that strangulation is a deep enough issue that it warrants recognition as a violent act.

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From Buying to Belonging: Rethinking the Purpose of Our Town Centres

10 minute read

Feb 2026

Where do high streets sit in the modern world? They aren’t the shopping hub they used to be, with the dominance of online shopping. Too many high streets are falling into disuse, with shops opening and then falling under. Work needs to be done to restore high streets up and down the country. This will drive the economy, knit communities and support local businesses. We recently hosted The Restoring the High Street Conference 2025, which explored the ways in which we can restore high streets to be the community hubs they once were. One of the incredible speakers in attendance was Rowenna Davis, a councillor from Croydon Council, who delivered a compelling case study which we have summarised below. Rowenna believes that the key to restoring high streets is to transform them into social hubs, places where people can connect and rebuild a sense of community. Find out more below!

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Ending Youth Homelessness: The Role of Schools and Local Councils

6 minute read

Feb 2026

Last year, around 118,000 young people presented themselves to their local authority in need of housing support. This is a worrying statistic. Yet it is one that with proactive steps, can be greatly reduced. It was one of the big topics at the recent National Homelessness Event 2026, which brought together industry experts and passionate speakers to explore how we can support the homeless and reduce the rate of people entering homelessness in the UK. It was a powerfully moving day, where great conversation, networking and learning took place. One of the stand out sessions was Stephen Elder’s case study, ‘Preventing Youth Homelessness Before It Happens – Working in Schools to Identify and Support Children at Risk’.

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

8 minute read

Nov 2025

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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Solidarity, Hope and Dignity: Refugee Action’s Vision for Refugee Protection

8 minute read

Sep 2025

What does it really mean to give someone a fresh start? For Tim Naor Hilton, Chief Executive at Refugee Action, it begins with dignity, safety, and the chance to be seen as more than a statistic. Speaking at the Supporting Asylum Seekers and Refugees Conference 2025, Hilton laid bare the realities of the UK asylum […]

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

8 minute read

Aug 2025

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

7 minute read

Aug 2025

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

3 minute read

Jul 2025

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

6 minute read

Jun 2025

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

7 minute read

Jun 2025

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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Videos

NHS Advances in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

4 minute read

Sep 2024

At the 2024 Dementia Care Conference, Professor Farooq Khan, Clinical Lead for Dementia in the Midlands with NHS England, presented a detailed case study highlighting recent advances in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

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Videos

Suicide Prevention Strategy for England: The Latest Government Guidance

5 minute read

Sep 2024

Verity Mallion, the Suicide Prevention Lead at the Department of Health and Social Care, delivered an insightful keynote at our National Suicide Prevention Conference 2024 on the latest government guidance and updates aimed at reducing suicide rates and improving support for vulnerable individuals.

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