LATAN Conference

On Thursday 23rd November 2023, Liverpool Access to Advice Network (LATAN) working in conjunction with the University of Liverpool and Citizens Advice Liverpool held an exciting one-day conference. The event focused on access to advice and links to reducing health and food inequalities. Opportunities for collaboration, innovation and policy development underpinned discussions throughout the day.

With the advice sector struggling under unprecedented demands for advice, the conference brought together a diverse range of organisations from across the country for positive discussions about increasing access to advice. They shared collaborative and innovative approaches, inspiring each other to make change happen. An important focus was on the co-location of advice and other services to work towards reducing health and food inequalities.

Speeches by Professor Sir Michael Marmot, and Liverpool MP Kim Johnson started the day on an inspiring note – increases in levels of poverty and destitution, and reductions in life expectancy rates are all avoidable – and reversible. Organisations involved in free legal advice, health, food, anti-poverty and research can see the changes that are needed. They are working hard, sharing innovative ideas, and developing collaborations, to help as many people as possible who desperately need support. At the same time, they are waiting for politicians to catch up and implement policies to increase access to advice and address the systemic issues causing poverty, health and food inequalities.

90 delegates attended from a diverse range of advice, health, academic, network and support organisations, and the conference harnessed the passion, commitment, and collaborative nature of all who attended.

Download the full conference round up report and presentations from the day below.