Joint training – I work with another Brighton-based trainer, Amy Swinnerton, on a programme of Welfare Reform courses targeted at workers within voluntary sector organisations and social housing. Amy and I work collaboratively on both public and in-house courses. We can be booked as a ‘dynamic duo’ if you have a large scale event to run, as we both have skills in presentation, facilitation and group work.  Please email me for more details: jayne.knights@btopenworld.com

Universal Credit Training – as Universal Credit becomes a reality, I have already delivered hundreds of training courses and seminars: my tailored courses will tell you all you need to know about this hugely controversial benefit. Please contact me if you would like to discuss how I can help your organisation prepare for, cope with and survive UC!

Legal work

I also write benefits – related newsletter articles and guest blogs for various charities and specialist legal firms, including Renaissance Legal – have a look at:

https://www.renaissancelegal.co.uk/making-successful-benefit-claims-mind/

Amy Swinnerton and I have also become the benefits consultants for Renaissance Legal, and offer a private casework and representation service. Click here for more information about this:

https://www.renaissancelegal.co.uk/our-services/benefits-services/

Training for Family Mediators

Another area where I am seeing an increased need for training is for mediators who need a good working knowledge of benefits. Mediators usually have two requirements – to be able to give their clients accurate steerage about the benefit consequences of a relationship breakdown, and also to understand the benefits system as it is applied to legal aid funding. Universal Credit is still as passporting benefit for family mediation, but an earnings threshold is likely to be introduced at some point, so it’s essential to keep on top of benefits updates.