Workshop on financial empowerment in deprived areas

The cost of living crisis has brought into stark relief the long run challenges of addressing poverty and deprivation in the UK. This workshop will explore practical ways that government, charities and businesses can support and empower individuals and communities to improve their financial prospects. Four specific topics we will explore are:

• Understanding financial literacy: What do we mean by financial literacy and how do we measure it? How does financial literacy connect to debt, poverty and mental health? What interventions can improve financial literacy?
• Entrepreneurship: What entrepreneurial skills exist in the community, particularly deprived areas? What skills are lacking? How can we enable individuals with entrepreneurial talent to fulfill their potential?
• Debt advice and early intervention: Where and when do individuals seek debt advice? How can we encourage those in financial difficult to seek timely access to expert advice? How can we encourage people to follow debt advice given?
• Women's empowerment: What do we mean by economic empowerment and financial independence and how does this relate to debt, poverty and mental health? How can we empower women to become entrepreneurs?

The workshop is open to all and will involve a mix of short presentations and discussion. We hope that it will provide a forum for people from academia, policy, voluntary and private sectors to exchange experiences, insights and best practice to inform positive and practical interventions that could be implemented at a local level.

Speakers and guests

There is a great line of guests and speakers including:

• Prof Maksim Belitski, Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Reading
• Dr. Peter McLuskie, researcher in enterprise and innovation at the University of Keele
• Amanda Heath and James Sherrenham from MADMAC Money Management
• Sangeeta Patel and/or Sarah Richards from Reaching People
• Rosie Hamilton from MSE Charity
• Professor Mohammad Faisal Ahammad, Professor of International Business & Management Leeds University Business School
• Professor Aihie Osarenkhoe, Professor of Marketing and International Business University of Gävle
• Professor Piers Thompson, Professor of Economics, Nottingham Trent University

Workshop schedule:

9:00 Registration opens and light refreshments.

9:30-10:00 Welcome and introductions.

10:00-11:00 Session 1: Short presentations. Guests will briefly introduce their work and key insights in 5-10 minute presentations.

11:00-11:30 Break

11:30-12:30 Session 2: Round-table discussion. We will break into groups to discuss the four topics mentioned above.

12:30-13:30 Lunch and networking

13:30-14:30 Session 3: Panel discussion.

14:30-15:00 Wrap up discussion.

Workshop organizers:

• Dr. Nurdilek Dalziel
• Dr. Eghosa Igudia
• Dr. Vitor Leone
• Professor Edward Cartwright

Source: DMU, Eventbrite