NACCOM invites members, partners and supporters to our Annual Conference on Wednesday 25 March 2026 in Leeds, which also celebrates 20 years since NACCOM was first established as an informal network to help #EndDestitution.
20 Years of Welcome, Activism and Solidarity
Celebrating the milestone of our twentieth birthday, our annual in-person conference unites members and partners to exchange best practices, skills, and strategies, driving collective action to eradicate destitution and homelessness for people in the asylum and immigration systems.
The conference offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen our shared purpose as we reflect on the journey that NACCOM – and the sector as a whole – has travelled over the past twenty years. We'll look towards the future, inspired by frontline organisations, people with lived experience, and other experts from across the homelessness and refugee sectors in a range of interactive workshops, presentations, panel discussions and craftivism activities.
Most of all, we'll harness the collective power of working together as a network as we continue to fight for lasting change, so that the next twenty years are characterised by activism, solidarity and welcome.
Key conference and workshop themes will include:
- Looking at innovative housing models for turning empty properties into decent homes
- Exploring what organisational resilience means, and how to integrate it into your workplace
- Tackling what effective NRPF support looks like, from referral to move on
- Navigating the influence of the far-right on local decision-making
- Expanding our understanding of Trauma Informed Practice
- Reflections on recent changes to policy and legislation and how they affect organisations working on housing and destitution.
Key information:
Date: Wednesday 25 March 2026
Location: Leeds (Postcode LS1 – A 13 minute walk from Leeds Station). We will send the full address to attendees after they have signed up.
Timing: Arrival from 9.30am, for a 10am start. The conference will end at 4pm and the venue will be open for networking until 5pm.
Workshops:
You can find details of the day's workshops below. Each delegate will be able to attend 2 workshops during the day (1 morning & 1 afternoon). You will be able to let us know your workshop choices during the ticketing process.
(Please note that Workshops 4 and 8 are the same workshop running twice during the day).
::: Morning workshops :::
Workshop 1: Organisational resilience in challenging times
We are living in challenging times for the charity sector, both for start-ups and established charities. This workshop will look at key topics to help your organisation be more resilient, such as strategy, business planning, governance, sustainability, funding and the management of limited resources.
We are excited that Julian Prior NACCOM's founding Chair and former CEO of Action Foundation will be delivering this workshop.
Workshop 2: Effective NRPF move-on from accommodation schemes
From referral to move-on: which processes, services and partnerships create the best conditions for people to move on successfully from temporary accommodation schemes?
Workshop 3: The changing policy environment: new legislation and what it means
We'll be looking at policy changes in recent pieces of legislation including the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act and the Renters' Rights Act and how they impact the work of the network.
Workshop 4: Well-making: craftivism (craft + activism) workshop for wellbeing
This multi-sensory, positive and mindful workshop is a space to learn how hand-embroidery and hand made objects can move people from being world-worriers to empowered changemakers.
The workshop will teach you ways you can use craft in different contexts for gentle social change to help change hearts, minds, policies and laws in ways that do not burn you out or cause polarisation. All craft resources supplied. No craft skills needed, just an open heart and open mind.
This workshop is being facilitated by founder of the global Craftivist Collective, and award-winning activist and author Sarah P Corbett.
::: Afternoon workshops :::
Workshop 5: Housing Innovation: looking at acquiring and converting empty properties into homes
Looking within and beyond the sector for ways to source housing. Including guest speaker Habitat for Humanity GB on converting empty residential and commercial premises into decent homes.
Workshop 6: Practical Tools for Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma Treatment International will talk you through some every-day practical tools to respond to trauma or high stress behaviours in those you support, and in colleagues and volunteers. This workshop will demonstrate, and give you an opportunity to practice, how to navigate everyday challenges with simple, no pressure steps.
Workshop 7: Rise of the far right: practical approaches to anti-migrant politics in our communities
The growth of extreme right wing political sentiment presents new challenges for homelessness and migrants' rights services. Bringing together practitioners already navigating these pressures at the community level, and national organisations working on movement-building, this workshop will offer practical guidance on delivering vital support when anti-migrant politics is gaining influence within local councils, and explore what charities can do to counter far-right narratives in their own communities.
Workshop 8: Well-making: craftivism (craft + activism) workshop for wellbeing
This multi-sensory, positive and mindful workshop is a space to learn how hand-embroidery and hand made objects can move people from being world-worriers to empowered changemakers.
The workshop will teach you ways you can use craft in different contexts for gentle social change to help change hearts, minds, policies and laws in ways that do not burn you out or cause polarisation. All craft resources supplied. No craft skills needed, just an open heart and open mind.
This workshop is being facilitated by founder of the global Craftivist Collective, and award-winning activist and author Sarah P Corbett.
