Society Matters: Learning & Development Newsletter
Welcome to the latest edition of our monthly newsletter!
Firstly, thank you to all those who attended our free webinar on ‘Beyond Section 21: What Landlords and Renters Need to Know about Section 8’.
We’re delighted to say that our next free webinar will take place very soon. This session will focus on '"We Can’t Help You”: Challenging Homelessness Gatekeeping'.
📅Date: Wednesday 14th April 2026
🕐Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
🎯Title: We Can’t Help You”: Challenging Homelessness Gatekeeping
The session will cover:
Understand the extent of gatekeeping currently in the UK and what gatekeeping is within the context of homelessness applications
Identify common ways people are discouraged from making a homelessness application
Understand the legal trigger for a homelessness application under the Housing Act 1996
Recognise situations where a local authority should accept a homelessness application
Identify practical steps advisers can take to challenge unlawful gatekeeping
We’re delighted to say we’ve also now launched a full-day CPD-accredited course on ‘Making a Homelessness Application’ which covers all aspects of supporting someone through the homelessness application process under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996. Through a combination of practical examples, case studies and interactive exercises, participants will learn how homelessness applications work in practice, how local authority duties operate, and how to identify and challenge common issues such as gatekeeping, incorrect priority need assessments and challenging flawed decision-making.
By the end of the session, you will have a clear understanding of the legal framework, the rights of applicants and the practical steps needed to achieve better outcomes for people at risk of homelessness.
Drawing on real-life examples from frontline advice work, this session will provide practical insight into the early stages of the homelessness application process and highlight some of the most common barriers people face when seeking help.
🎟️ Read more information and join this course with us here.
April 2026 Updates: Benefit Increases and Major Employment Law Changes Explained
April 2026 brings with it the usual uprating of UK welfare benefits, typically rising by 3.8% in most cases. We know that this can be a confusing time getting used to the new rates of the various welfare benefits and with that in mind, we’ve designed our own 2026-27 benefit rates poster to help you navigate the change. You’ll find a copy attached with your edition of our newsletter. Be aware that in most cases, the benefits uprating takes effect from April 13th 2026.
April also brings with it a tranche of changes as part of the government’s landmark Employment Rights Act. From April 6th 2026 statutory sick pay will become available from day one of being ill rather than day four and the lower earnings limit (the minimum amount someone must earn to be eligible, currently £125pw, will be abolished. There will also be additional changes around paternity leave and ordinary parental leave.
⭐Society Matters offers a half-day CPD-accredited course on the Welfare Benefit System where we discuss the different types of statutory leave/benefits available and how they could be impacted by the upcoming changes.
Access to Work in Focus: Reform Plans Target Awareness, Support and Delays
National Citizens Advice has published a report on the Access to Work scheme, outlining three reforms to help the scheme perform better and better support disabled people in work; improving awareness of the scheme, increasing support and streamlining the reimbursement system. The report comes as the Public Accounts Committee have described the DWP’s 25 day target for reimbursements as ‘bordering on pointless’ as the average wait time reaches 109 days.
⭐Society Matters offers a half-day CPD-accredited course on Access to Workwhere we discuss all aspects of the scheme such as eligibility, support available, managing a claim day-to-day and how we can ensure people get the right support at the earliest opportunity. You can find more information here.
Article - Shut Out: The Quiet Reality of ‘Gatekeeping’ in Britain’s Homelessness System
Society Matters Social Delivery Manager, Adam Matthews explores the topic in more detail in this month’s article Shut Out: The Quiet Reality of ‘Gatekeeping’ in Britain’s Homelessness System, looking at how people are turned away at the point they seek help – and what this means for frontline professionals.
Podcast – This is the North Episode 46: If I'd Known That, It Would've Affected My Vote
In this episode, Alison is joined by Sarah Breeden, Deputy Governor for Financial Stability at the Bank of England and member of the Monetary Policy Committee. Sarah grew up in Stockport, went to the local comprehensive, and has spent the last 34 years at the Bank. She describes her childhood as "bog standard, northern, normal", and her journey from putting parsley on airline meals at Manchester Airport to becoming one of six people in the Bank's senior leadership team.
The conversation turns to economic literacy and who gets access to it. Sarah describes citizens' panels where, after a single conversation about how the economy works, one woman said: "If I'd known that, that would've affected my vote." With only 1% of economics degree students coming from the North East, Sarah makes the case for the Bank's expansion into Leeds and its regional presence in Newcastle, not just to access talent, but to hear the voices that should be shaping policy.
Sarah also discusses the progression of women in the Bank's leadership, having founded its women's network in 2007 and co-chaired it for eight years. The senior team is now 50/50, but she is candid that the layer below is not bringing women through at the rate she had hoped. The episode also covers digital money and stablecoins versus Bitcoin, and why cyber risk is now the thing that keeps her most awake at night.
