Capita have contacted us .... and are looking for a speaker for their Benefits and Ageing Conference (30th June - Central London) -

Capita are creating a one-day conference for local and central government, charities and advice groups to cover the issues surrounding welfare, benefits and older people. In particular the event will cover issues like access and take-up of benefits, the form benefits take at the moment, using benefits as a means to tackle poverty, and advocacy by and on behalf of older people to give them more of a voice in deciding policy. At the moment we are looking for speakers who could discuss the practical ways and means of boosting the take-up of welfare benefits at a local level.

Anyone interested can e-mail me at mailto:james.kirkland@capita.co.uk

And yes this is the same Capita who do all that splendid work for the DWP at very reasonable cost to the taxpayer.

But Mr Kirkland is rather hoping speakers will do it for nowt:

"Terms provided to each speaker, or their organisation, are negotiated on an individual basis. We can certainly provide financial assistance with travel and accommodation should it be required, and a fee to cover the time that goes into work such as this, usually in the £150-£200 region, should that be requested."

Note the "should that be requested".

And the cost if you want to attend the average Capita conference? Around £390-£475 per delegate, plus VAT.

So that's how you get to be an extremely wealthy multinational.

A number of voluntary sector bodies have so far been invited, but not yet agreed, to assist Capita with their corporate growth, including, according to the draft programme they sent me:

Age Concern, Citizens Advice, Carers UK & Better Government for Older People.

Steve

http://www.capita-ld.co.uk/search/conferencespage.asp?id=L0653

Many of you will no doubt have shelled out £400+ in the hope of hearing me speak at the Capita Conference on Benefits and Ageing on 30th June. So you will be devestated to learn that although I am down in the brochure and on the website as being one of the speakers I would sooner eat my own head than do anything for Capita other than throw a party were they to go into liquidation.

I've no idea how many of the other people on the list of speakers agreed to attend only in the fevered imaginations of the organisers. I have explained my displeasure at being listed as a speaker - I wonder if i could sue for defamation for being associated with Capita in this way?

Is there a lawyer in the house?

To assuage your disappointment, for a rather more modest sum you could still have the pleasure of participating in a Freedom of Information workshop led by me - hanging onto the coat tails of Maurice Frankel - on 4th July.

Steve

heh heh.

unfortunately, 4th July is out of the question. will you be doing another one? : )

i've asked for relevant documents showing the decision to implement closures of social security offices in the Jobcentreplus programme at ministerial level and docs showing what information was provided by the DWP to Ministers regarding risk assessment of the reduction of the local office network, and on consultation and results of consultation.

on Friday, over 3 months (guess i was in the unlucky 18%!)after my request I received a response from the Directoire of JC+ Implementation Programme.

oh boy, do i need a training course, quick!

I was also contacted by Capita about being a speaker at this event. Surprise surprise the guy that rang me couldnt explain precisely what they wanted. He then admitted he didnt work for Capita but a company asked to find speakers.
I was tempted to say I could do a trapeze act with no ropes. Would that do.