What’s on – the conference programme

Plenary: State of the nation 2012

The context for our conference agenda with an overview of the social, economic and political state of our nation will be discussed by:

• David Greig, playwright
• Judith Robertson, Head of Oxfam Scotland

The session will be chaired by Ruth Wishart, journalist and broadcaster.

Breakout sessions

Patients' rights and beyond
From April 2012, The Patient Rights (Scotland) Act will provide new opportunities for patients to have a say about their care and to raise concerns if that treatment does not meet their expectations. Find out more about your rights and responsibilities and how Scottish bureaux will support patients with their healthcare concerns.

Welfare Reform
The most seismic change in UK welfare benefits since the creation of the Welfare State in 1948 will have a massive impact on people and the agencies that help them gain their entitlements. Do you know what’s coming? (Repeated on Day Two)

Think local, act local
Scottish bureaux are renowned for identifying advice needs in the communities they serve and delivering innovative responses. Find out more about local CAB projects aimed at tackling fuel poverty and helping young people gain lifelong financial skills.

Living as a Disabled Person
What’s the reality of living with a disability in Scotland today? What difference will welfare reform make? What practical impact does human rights legislation have? Learn more from those in the know.

Plenary: Welfare reform

Predictions abound about the impact the Welfare Reform Bill will have on the people, advices services, local authorities and devolved legislation of Scotland. This is your opportunity to hear from:

• Kenny Farquharson, Deputy Editor, Scotland on Sunday
• Rt Hon Anne McGuire MP, Shadow Minister for Work & Pensions
• Rt Hon David Mundell MP, Permanent Under Secretary of State for Scotland
• Professor Emeritus Adrian Sinfield, University of Edinburgh
• Laurie Russell, Chief Executive of The Wise Group

Help us to move the debate on and make your voice heard by this influential panel.

****STOP PRESS***ADDITIONAL PLENARY SESSION*** (open to delegates from citizens advice bureaux only)

Three expert Jobcentre Plus will be joining the Conference. Take this chance to listen and join the debate about:

• Incapacity Benefit migration
• Personal Independence Payment
• Universal Credit

CAS Gathering dinner and dance
Staged at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, this celebratory evening allows CAS Gathering delegates to relax and unwind in congenial surroundings over a three-course dinner. The now-traditional quiz will return once more – and no smartphones will be allowed!

Breakout sessions:

Please note the start and end times of the session you would like to attend, as two of the breakout sessions start (Get LIPPY! and Growing up in a recession) slightly earlier and run a little longer.

Get LIPPY! Local social policy work in the Scottish CAB Service (09.45 – 11.45)
CAS’s Local Impact Project (LIP) team will help bureaux take small steps that make a huge difference in their communities. Learn how bureaux will use the data and evidence they already collect to show their value, and how the Scottish CAB Service applies a combination of local and national social policy work to take action on the issues that matter to each CAB and its clients.

Growing up in a recession: young people’s experiences (09.30 – 11.30)
It seems a particularly tough time to be embarking on adult life. Job prospects for new entrants into the labour market are poor, continuing in education is expensive and the chances of owning your own home look slender. Is it really that bad? Listen to the stories of young people, told in their own words, and judge for yourself.

Keep calm and carry on: advice for the armed forces community (10.00 – 11.30)
20% of the Scottish population are part of the armed forces community with the same issues as everybody else, but often compounded by current or past military experience. Following the Falklands War more soldiers died afterwards through suicide than were killed during the conflict. Projects such as the CAB Service’s Armed Services Advice Project can make the difference between life and death. Can you help too?

Welfare Reform (10.00 – 11.30)
The most seismic change in UK welfare benefits since the creation of the Welfare State in 1948 will have a massive impact on people and the agencies that help them gain their entitlements. Do you know what’s coming? (repeat of Day One Breakout Session)

Plenary sessions:

Conference Address by Susan McPhee, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Citizens Advice Scotland

Debt and money advice in Scotland - the future
The Money Advice Service has announced it will perform a central role in the coordination of debt advice across the UK from April 2012. What will that mean for people in Scotland whose manageable credit has turned to unmanageable debt? And what does the future hold for the frontline agencies that currently offer free debt advice? Expect a lively debate in this session.

Protecting consumers
Major changes in the consumer landscape give the Citizens Advice service across Great Britain the opportunity to improve and develop services. This session will outline the key new developments and how they will benefit consumers, stakeholders and advice givers in Scotland.

Conclusion and close of conference.