This seminar explores the implications of introducing the socio-economic duty for the housing sector in Wales.

Welsh Government has committed to introducing the public sector duty regarding socio-economic inequalities - Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010 - as a means of reducing economic and social disadvantage in communities across Wales. An 8-week public consultation on the proposal launches on 22 November 2019 and runs to 17 January 2020, ahead of the duty coming into force on 1 April 2020.

Socio Economic Duty for Wales will offer an opportunity to examine and debate the proposals and their implications while looking at examples and policy solutions to reduce socio-economic disadvantage.

SPEAKERS

• Shane Williams | Welsh Government – this session will provide a key opportunity to engage with officials ahead of WG’s consultation and publication of guidance. Drawing on its vision for the duty, we’ll hear plans for its implementation next year
• Miriam McKenna | Programme Manager, Improvement Service, Scotland - the ‘Fairer Scotland’ Duty (the Scottish equivalent to the socio-economic duty) came into force for Scottish public bodies in April 2018. As Programme Manager, Miriam has worked with the Scottish Government in supporting its implementation. This included helping develop interim national guidance. Miriam will share lessons of the challenges brought about by the duty as well as some of the good practice among public bodies some 18 months after it came into force
• Ruth Coombes | Head of Equality and Human Rights Commission, Wales - will examine how socio-economic inequality is often the basis for all other inequality. Looking at the Commission’s ‘Is Wales Fairer?’ report, Ruth will explore how the duty can help public bodies prevent in-built disadvantage
• Elin Brock & Steve Cranston | Foundational economy - a key economic policy of Welsh Government, the foundational economy cuts across all goods and services in our communities. This session will explore the important role that the housing sector can play in support of a foundational economy in Wales as a means of reducing socio-economic as well as wider inequality
• Simone Devinett | Rhondda Housing Association - will showcase the ‘Grub Hub’ project, an innovative food recycling scheme (shortlisted in the Welsh Housing Awards) aimed at supporting tenants in food poverty and struggling with welfare reform. Simone will discuss the origins of the project and share successes from its first two years of operation, with lessons for the wider sector on tackling social and economic disadvantage

• If cancellation is notified to Tai Pawb within 10 working days of the date of the event, the full cost of the event will be incurred;
• If cancellation is notified to Tai Pawb within 15 working days of the date of the event, 50% of the cost will be incurred;
• If cancellation is notified to Tai Pawb more than 15 working days before the date of the event then no cost will be incurred.