Meeting recap

The Caseworker Forum held on 9 July 2025 focused on sharing innovative solutions and resources to support beneficiaries facing challenges such as homelessness, financial hardship, and hygiene poverty. Presentations were delivered by In Kind Direct, Lightning Reach, and Family Fund Business Services (FFBS), showcasing their respective tools and services designed to enhance caseworker efficiency and beneficiary outcomes. Attendees were also updated on upcoming events, including the ACO Annual Conference and training opportunities for frontline workers. The session concluded with an open invitation for feedback on future training topics and further engagement with the speakers. Technical difficulties related to audio and screen sharing were resolved before the presentations commenced.

Key takeaways

• Introduction of In Kind Direct: Emma Aldridge presented In Kind Direct’s mission to reduce non-food waste by redistributing surplus consumer goods to charitable organisations. The organisation supports over 6,500 partners, including charities, community groups, and schools, helping them access essential items like hygiene products, clothing, and household goods. In Kind Direct’s work alleviates hygiene poverty and enables organisations to redirect savings into critical services. They emphasised the importance of impact reporting to sustain donations from corporate partners.
• Lightning Reach’s New ‘Deliver’ Product: Dave Farquharson introduced Lightning Reach’s new end-to-end solution for delivering support to beneficiaries. The platform simplifies the process of issuing vouchers, tracking fulfilments, and managing approvals. Key features include instant delivery of vouchers via email, plans to expand into physical goods, and direct payments. The solution aims to reduce administrative burden while ensuring timely support for beneficiaries. The platform also includes a user-friendly dashboard for caseworkers to monitor and manage the distribution process efficiently.
• Family Fund Business Services (FFBS) Overview: Jessica Massam highlighted FFBS’s role as a procurement partner for charities, councils, and housing associations. FFBS provides a wide range of products and services, including furniture, appliances, and vouchers, with a focus on social value. Their new Homelessness Support Solution includes personalised bundles for individuals transitioning from homelessness to stable housing. These bundles can be tailored to meet the specific needs of beneficiaries, including essential household items and furniture. FFBS also facilitates cash payments and large-scale furnishing projects for local councils, ensuring that beneficiaries receive comprehensive support during their transition.
• Upcoming Events and Training Opportunities: Donal Watkin provided updates on upcoming events, including the ACO Annual Conference in September 2025 and the AGM Summer Social in July 2025. Training sessions on safeguarding for call handlers are scheduled for later this month, with plans for future sessions on gambling awareness and neurodivergence awareness.
• Networking Opportunities: Attendees were encouraged to connect with the speakers for further discussions and explore partnership opportunities.

Speakers:

Emma Aldridge (In Kind Direct)
Charity Network Manager
emma.aldridge@inkinddirect.org

Dave Farquharson (Lightning Reach)
Director of Partnerships
dave@lightningreach.org

Jessica Massam (Family Fund Business Services)
Business Development Manager
jessica.massam@familyfundservices.co.uk

You can find the presentations below.