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How Adur and Worthing used LIFT to build stronger community partnerships “Using LIFT has transformed the way we work with our community partners. For the first time, we can clearly see where support is needed and act on it together. What’s really powerful about LIFT is that, even though Adur and Worthing operate separate systems, it gives us a joined up view of our residents’ needs, helping us co-ordinate support and make a bigger difference across both councils.” - Natalie Mayes, Proactive Project Lead, Adur and Worthing Councils

Adur and Worthing Councils have shared services and a joint vision for improving residents’ lives, while continuing to operate as two distinct local authorities within West Sussex. Like many councils preparing for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), they face the challenge of managing separate data and benefit systems, which can make it harder to see the full picture of need across their combined area. By uniting data across two local authorities, Adur and Worthing created a shared foundation for collaboration, making it easier for partners to reach the right people, faster. The councils helped 6,151 residents access over £953,790 in support. Their approach shows how data driven insight and local partnership can work hand in hand, offering a practical model for other councils navigating LGR and beyond.

As 2025 draws to a close, join us as we review the policy developments, sector wide challenges and practical successes that have shaped the past year and what we expect for 2026. From rising arrears and shrinking local budgets to major reforms to disability benefits and the continued impact of the cost of living crisis, 2025 has brought fresh pressure on low income households and the organisations that support them. At the same time, many councils, housing providers, utilities and charities have stepped up with data-led approaches to drive targeted support, often against the odds. We’ll revisit the key policy changes that defined the year and upcoming changes in the year to come, such as the new Crisis and Resilience Fund, disability benefits reforms, local government reorganisation and the extension of Free School Meals. We will also share insights from our work with partners across sectors on how they made the most of these changes, and turned challenges into opportunities. We’ll also highlight findings from our landmark analysis of Council Tax Reduction schemes, which revealed worrying trends but also pointed the way toward more effective, fairer support for households struggling with arrears. Through case studies, data and real world examples, we’ll celebrate the tangible impact our clients have had in their communities and look ahead to what 2026 may bring. Join us to: - Explore the key policy developments and sector challenges that shaped 2025 and what will shape the year ahead - Hear highlights from our work on Council Tax Reduction, unclaimed support and safeguarding - Hear inspiring case studies from organisations that used data to drive impact in 2025, and what they see in store for 2026

£24 billion of support is unclaimed Over 7 million households are missing out on record support, driven by under claiming and new eligibility, but targeted action is beginning to turn the tide Book a call with our team to find out what is unclaimed in your area

How Adur and Worthing used LIFT to build stronger community partnerships Key takeaways for other local authorities: 1. Use data you already hold to uncover hidden need. By safely combining existing council data, Adur and Worthing identified households most at risk and revealed where support could have the greatest impact using LIFT 2. Get the information to deliver targeted outreach. Data driven insights allowed the councils and partners to reach residents who might otherwise have been missed, ensuring support was proactive, not reactive 3. Build strong, trusted partnerships. Clear data sharing agreements and collaboration across sectors enabled community organisations, utilities and the councils to work seamlessly toward shared social outcomes

Record levels of temporary accommodation, rising arrears and deepening financial vulnerability are driving more people towards homelessness this winter. Many are already in debt or at risk of falling into it, yet millions of people across the UK are not receiving the support they are entitled to. This webinar will focus on how councils and financial institutions are using data and proactive support to prevent households from reaching crisis point. Speakers include: - Ian Cheatle from Nationwide who is the first financial services provider to launch a free telephone benefits calculator service, helping people understand and claim the support they are entitled to while tackling digital exclusion - David Gil Welsh, Director of Pricing, Data and Analytics at Lantern Group as well as DebtStream, who will share how both organisations are supporting people in debt to access the benefits they are entitled to through built-in income maximisation in their collections process - Glyn Ashman from the London Borough of Hackney who will discuss the council’s campaign to support residents in temporary housing who are in arrears By acting earlier, organisations can reduce harm and deliver better outcomes for customers, residents and communities. Join us to hear: • How organisations are using data to identify households at risk of debt or homelessness before crisis hits • How proactive support can help people access the financial support they’re entitled to and improve resilience • Examples of prevention campaigns and pilots demonstrating measurable impact for both residents and customers