National Handyperson Conference

Organiser: Foundations

Date: 24th March, 2010

Venue: Royal College of Physicians, Regent's Park, London

We have seen a fascinating period in the development of handyperson services across the country. These services have existed in many areas for more than 20 years, but in 2009-10, significant funding from Communities and Local Government and the Home Office was invested in their growth and coverage, and in their ability to provide holistic services which meet health, housing, safety, home security and crime reduction objectives.

This event is supported by both the Home Office and Communities and Local Government. It will celebrate what has been achieved so far and debate the next steps in the development of handyperson services nationally.

Much of the day will be in the form of workshops, focusing on several strands: policy, innovation, hands-on, and good practice. Sessions will be aimed at both commissioners and managers of services, as well as front-line staff.

Sessions will cover:

• The success so far of using the CLG funding to develop the capacity of services and create new ones where provision didn't exist

• outputs from the Home Office funding for delivering target-hardening measures in around 60,000 homes in 'priority need' authorities, working with community-led, third sector organisations

• the launch of the CLG-commissioned 'benefits tool' which local authorities and providers can use to calculate potential cost savings to other budgets from using preventative handyperson services (this will include hands-on demonstrations)

• innovation and ideas from around the country in planning, targeting, resourcing and delivering handyperson services, and

• strategic approaches to achieving sustainable funding for services, building an evidence base and a business case for handyperson services.

A number of speakers are still to be confirmed before draft programme details can be published, but we have invited representatives from some of the leading handyperson service providers, including a number of pilot authorities funded by CLG to run 'enhanced' services. The Home Office Safer Homes initiative has produced some excellent partnerships between voluntary or community-led groups and the police and local authorities, and we aim to feature some of the most interesting examples of these as well.

Places on this conference will be limited and are available on a 'first come, first served' basis. Please click here for the event booking form. If you have any booking queries, please contact jatherton@cel.co.uk.

The National Handyperson Conference is being delivered by Foundations which is managed by CEL Transform, a division of the CEL Group.