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TIS Conference Hailed a Success |
Thursday 3rd November saw lively debate take place during the opening session of the TIS Autumn Conference "The Impact of the Financial Storm".
This is the first event that TIS has organised around welfare reform and delegates found it an invaluable day. Feedback included "This is my first conference and I am very pleased with the information put across". "The workshops were excellent" and "Well presented conference - more sessions required".
The panel members and conference delegates focussed on the impact welfare reform will have on communities and the difficulty of finding work for so many people in the current recession. Keenan Alexander of the Scottish Youth Parliament pointed out that there are many young people who do help themselves and want to go into training or work but are finding it so difficult at the moment. Delegates raised great concern about the under-occupation proposals within the welfare reform bill which could mean that people of working age are forced to move from their family homes. However, if they move from a council house to a housing association house they could find their rent increases rather than decreases.
Impact Arts staff facilitated the plenary session highlighting their Fab Pad work and demonstrating that it is possible to decorate a house on a low budget, therefore turning it into a home that is comfortable and personal. This left delegates at the end of the day feeling more positive about what young people can achieve in their first homes.
TIS plans to facilitate further events around welfare reform in the next few months.
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