DRAFT 1 - HSE Values Workshop - Equality Coalition

A Conference organised by the NI Anti-Poverty Network and Child Poverty Alliance

MEETING OBJECTIVE NEED Towards implementing an Anti-Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland

9.30am - 1.15pm Tuesday 5th April 2016,

UNISON, 165 York Street, Belfast, BT15 1AL

To confirm your attendance, please contact Shelley King c/o UNISON Tel - 02890 270190; Email – [email protected] Deadline - Thursday 31 March 2016

NI Anti-Poverty Network

Background to the conference

In June 2015 the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) won a legal challenge against the Northern Ireland Executive for failing to adopt a strategy to tackle poverty, social exclusion and patterns of deprivation on the basis of objective need (the Anti-Poverty Strategy).

Despite a clear Court judgement that the Executive is in breach of its legal obligations, no strategy based on objective need has yet emerged. Organised by the NI Anti-Poverty Network and the Child Poverty Alliance:  This conference will highlight the impact of current policies on those currently experiencing poverty.  This conference will explore different approaches to reducing poverty – including equality and human rights-based perspectives.  This conference will examine potential strategies to ensure a robust, effective anti-poverty strategy for Northern Ireland based on objective need. To confirm your attendance, please contact Shelley King c/o UNISON Tel - 02890 270190; Email – [email protected]. Deadline - Thursday 31 March 2016

The organisers NI Anti-Poverty Network

The NI Anti-Poverty Network (NIAPN) is a member-led organisation of over 300 individuals and organisations committed to tackling poverty. It was established in 1990 as part of an EU-wide move to address poverty and social exclusion.

Its mission is to attain a poverty free society by empowering communities and influencing government through research, education and campaigning. NIAPN also networks with other organisations concerned with poverty and its affect, and is part of the European Anti-Poverty Network. The Child Poverty Alliance (CPA) is an inclusive coalition committed to campaigning for and addressing child poverty by working collaboratively with an evidence-based approach. The CPA has been constructive, pragmatic and solution focused, based on the evidence of what will work. It has engaged directly with Government and elected representatives seeking to inform public policy and hold Government accountable for tackling child poverty. It continues to advocate publically on behalf of families and children living in poverty so that policy makers will be more informed of the possible impact of their actions on children living in poverty.

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Programme

9.30am

Registration, tea & coffee

10.00am

Welcome & scene setting  

10.15am

Developing an anti-poverty strategy based on objective need 

10.45am

Fiona McCausland – Vice-Chair, NI Anti-Poverty Network Pauline Leeson - Chair, Child Poverty Alliance

Daniel Holder – Committee on the Administration of Justice

Approaches to reducing poverty  Mike Tomlinson - Poverty & Social Exclusion Research Project  Paddy Hillyard - Child Poverty Alliance  Anne Marie Gray - Joseph Rowntree Foundation

11.40am

Break

11.50am

Ensuring the voices of people experiencing poverty are heard  Goretti Horgan - NIAPN / University of Ulster  Marie Cavanagh - NIAPN / Gingerbread NI  Dessie Donnelly - Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR)

12.30pm

Panel discussion: Poverty, inequality and human rights  Koulla Yiasouma - NI Commissioner for Children and Young People  Dr Michael Wardlow – Chief Commissioner, Equality Commission NI  Grainia Long – Commissioner, NI Human Rights Commission

1.15pm

Next Steps  

1.30pm

Fiona McCausland – Vice-Chair, NI Anti-Poverty Network Pauline Leeson - Chair, Child Poverty Alliance

Lunch During each session there will be the opportunity for participants to ask questions 3

Meeting Objective Need Towards implementing an Anti-Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland

To confirm your attendance please contact Shelley King c/o UNISON Tel - 02890 270190 Email – [email protected] Deadline - Thursday 31 March 2016

For further information on NIAPN contact Thomas Mahaffy, NIAPN Board Secretary c/o UNISON, Galway House, 165 York Street, Belfast BT15 1AL Tel. 02890270190 [email protected]

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