NACCOM warmly invites members, partners and supporters to our Annual Conference in March 2024

‘Facing the future together – strategies, support and solidarity to End Destitution’

The conference will bring the NACCOM network and partners together in-person to share good practice, skills and strategies to end destitution in both the short and long-term. During what is set to be a general election year, and in the midst of a worsening hostile environment for people in the asylum and immigration system, as well as those who provide support services to them, the conference will also be an opportunity to mobilise and stand together in solidarity as we look further ahead into 2024.

Attendees will hear from frontline charity leaders, people with lived experience, and other experts from across the homelessness and refugee sectors, as we explore key challenges and opportunities to inform and support our collective work this year through a range of interactive workshops, presentations and panel discussions.

As part of the conference, attendees will be able to view an exhibition of original artwork by the illustrator Ada Jusic, commissioned by NACCOM as part of our Community Research project.

Key conference and workshop themes will include:

Understanding the policy and practice implications of the Illegal Migration Act
Diversifying your housing models
Working with people with complex needs
Media work and safeguarding
General election influencing on a regional level
Legal challenges
Setting up a lived experience group

Key information:

Location: York (YO1 - a 13 minute walk from York Railway Station). We will send the full address out to attendees after they have signed up.

Timing: Arrival from 9.30am, for a 10am start. The conference will end at 4pm.

Workshops: please see the workshop info below, each delegate will be able to attend 2 workshops during the day. You will be able to let us know your workshop choices during the ticketing process.

*Workshop 1: Setting up and d**iversifying your housing models*

Facilitated by NACCOM’s Network Development Coordinator, Paul Catterall, with contributions from NACCOM’s members Open Door North East, Hope at Home and Kairos Housing.

Workshop details: In this workshop we will hear from three NACCOM members at different stages of setting up and delivering housing to people seeking asylum, newly granted refugees and other migrants.

We will cover a broad range of topics, including; finding innovative solutions, strategic planning, acquiring the right housing stock, different models and the benefits of cross-subsidy, supported housing and housing management.

The workshop will also introduce NACCOM’s Working with Housing Associations – A Toolkit, launched in October 2023, and how partnership working with Housing Associations can make a significant difference to our work.

Workshop 2: Working with people with complex needs

::THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL::

Facilitated by NACCOM’s Network Development Coordinator, Katie Fawcett, with workshop contributors to include NACCOM members Coventry Refugee Migrant Centre, Saint John Of God Hospitaller Services (SJOG), and St Augustine’s Centre, Halifax.

Workshop details: This workshop is an exploration of the types of complex needs, such as substance misuse and advanced health needs, people may present with when seeking support from our members. We will look at ways to navigate the challenges within the complexity of immigration controls and explore solutions and pathways that can lead people to accessing the care and support they most need.

*Workshop 3: Setting up and r**unning a lodgings scheme* for newly granted refugees at risk of homelessness

Facilitated by NACCOM’s Network Development Coordinator, Tom MacPherson, with contributions from Housing Justice, Refugee Welcome Homes, and Penrith and Eden Refugee Network (PERN).

Lodging schemes can provide an effective accommodation pathway for refugees and migrants, but what are they, and how do they work?

Workshop details: Hear from NACCOM members who have set up a lodging scheme; one with years of experience, and two more recently established. The workshop will provide an insight into establishing, operating and sustaining an effective lodging scheme. The workshop will close with a Q&A session.

Workshop 4: Media work when you’re new to it: Safeguarding, support and storytelling in the refugee sector

Refugee and migrant sector communications specialists IMIX will facilitate this workshop, which will also feature contributions from Patrick Butler, The Guardian’s Social Policy Editor, and NACCOM member Open Door North East.

An introduction or refresher for frontline organisations interested in participating in media work.

Workshop details: Media work can be a critical and impactful way of raising awareness of the issues affecting our network and those we support, and building public support for change, particularly in a general election year. However, it’s important that consideration is given to how media work can be undertaken in a strategic, safe and supportive way, especially for those with lived experience.

NACCOM partners IMIX will facilitate a workshop aiming to provide insight, tools and guidance to frontline charities when approaching key aspects of media work. The session will also feature NACCOM members sharing their insights from media campaigns.

Workshop 5: Influencing in a general election year

::THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL::

Facilitated by NACCOM’s Policy and Research Coordinator, Leon Elliott, and featuring sector experts and NACCOM members, who will share their experience.

A how-to guide for frontline organisations looking to build relationships and influence their local representatives ahead of this year’s General Election.

Workshop details: The session will cover the information that charities must know when campaigning prior to an election, and provide practical insight from those who have experience of engaging with local decision-makers.

It will also be opportunity to hear from organisations involved in national campaigns talk about how frontline organisations can harness their skills and expertise to influence national policy.

Workshop 6: Building lived experience representation: Learning from the Community Research Programme and the NACCOM network

Facilitated by NACCOM’s Community Research Facilitator, Finn McKay, and involving Community Researchers and NACCOM members.

This session will explore how organisations can ensure that people with lived experience of immigration control and destitution are supported to be meaningfully involved in shaping service design and delivery, and the various forms that this representation can take.

Workshop details: NACCOM’s Community Researchers will be sharing principles for working with people with lived experience based on learning from three years of the Community Research Programme.

We will also be hearing from other organisations in the NACCOM network about how they have built and embedded lived experience representation, whether through engaging service-users in an advisory capacity, or increasing representation at a staff, managerial, trustee or other voluntary level.

Other info:

Refreshments: Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Tickets: £45 per person for NACCOM members; £90 per person for non-members.

Subsidised tickets: We have a small number of subsidies to provide free tickets for people with lived experience and for organisations who feel the cost would be a barrier to them being able to attend. Please contact us on office@naccom.org.uk or call 0161 706 0185 for further information about accessing this.

Ticket buying process: Note if you are purchasing tickets for other people in your organisation, you will need to know this information for each delegate: workshop choices, food allergies/dietary requirements, access needs, photo consent and consent to share their name at the event.

Workshop 1: Setting up and diversifying your housing models

Workshop 2: Working with people with complex needs

::THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL::

Workshop 3: Setting up and running a lodgings scheme for newly granted refugees at risk of homelessness

Workshop 4: Media work when you’re new to it: Safeguarding, support and storytelling in the refugee sector

Workshop 5: Influencing in a general election year

::THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL::

Workshop 6: Building lived experience representation: Learning from the Community Research Programme and the NACCOM network

*Workshop 1: Setting up and d**iversifying your housing models*

*Workshop 3: Setting up and r**unning a lodgings scheme* for newly granted refugees at risk of homelessness

NACCOM Annual Conference 2024: Facing the future together