This year, Foundations is taking its message of evidence-based policy and practice to the Labour and Conservative party conferences – shining a light on the value of early intervention and prevention for vulnerable children and families.

Join us in Liverpool next month for the Labour Party conference for our series of events on children’s social care, family support, and why knowing ‘what works’ is essential for a mission-driven government.

More details to be added soon. Follow us on X/Twitter, LinkedIn and/or Bluesky, and sign up to our newsletter for updates.

Labour Party Conference, Liverpool
Sunday 28 September to Wednesday 1 October

Helping children thrive: How do we drive a national focus on parenting?

Sunday 28 September | 15:30–16:30
Hosted in partnership with Nesta

Speakers:

• Stephen Morgan MP, Minister for Early Education (invited)
• Donna Molloy OBE, Deputy Chief Executive, Foundations
• Louise Bazalgette, Deputy Director – A Fairer Start, Nesta
• Sam Creme, Director, Collective Futures.

This event will be chaired by Ravi Gurumurthy, CEO of Nesta.

Giving every child the best start in life: In conversation with Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP

Sunday 28 September | 19:00–21:15

Hosted in partnership with the Centre for Young Lives

Speakers:

• Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education (confirmed)
• Baroness Anne Longfield, Executive Chair, Centre for Young Lives
• Dr Jo Casebourne, Chief Executive, Foundations.

Join us for the first evening of conference as we sit down with Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, to reflect on her first year in office, what drives her work every day, and what ambitions she and the government have for the future.

This fireside chat will be followed by a drinks reception, where we will hear from other senior figures about how we can collectively work together to give every child the best start in life, and ensure they all have the opportunities to thrive.

Inside and outside the school gates: How can we give all children the best start in life?

Monday 29 September | 10:45–11:45
Hosted in partnership with IPPR and the Centre for Social Justice

Speakers:

• Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education (invited)
• Helen Hayes MP, Chair, Education Committee
• Dr Jo Casebourne, Chief Executive, Foundations
• Ed Davies, Research Director, Centre for Social Justice.

This panel will be chaired by Avnee Morjaria, Associate Director for Public Services at IPPR.

From investment to delivery: Seizing the opportunity for children’s services

Monday 29 September | 13:45–14:45

Speakers:

• Janet Daby MP, Minister for Children & Families (invited)
• Dr Jo Casebourne, Chief Executive, Foundations
• Anna Feuchtwang, Chief Executive, National Children’s Bureau (NCB)
• Lisa Harker, Director, Nuffield Family Justice Observatory.

This panel will be chaired by Donna Molloy OBE, Deputy Chief Executive of Foundations – What Works Centre for Children & Families.

What works for a mission-driven government: Post-leader’s speech reception

Tuesday 30 September | 16:15–18:00
Hosted in partnership with Youth Futures Foundation, the Centre for Homelessness Impact, and TASO

We will be joined by Cabinet Office Minister Georgia Gould MP, Education Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith, as well as Baroness Luciana Berger, Baroness Anne Longfield, and the chief executives of Foundations, YFF, CHI and TASO.

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Conservative Party Conference, Manchester
Sunday 5 October – Wednesday 8 October

Families First: A blueprint for reimagining support for children

Monday 6 October | 15:00–16:00
Hosted in partnership with Family Rights Group

Speakers:

• Rt Hon Laura Trott MBE MP , Shadow Secretary of State for Education (invited)
• Cathy Ashley OBE, Chief Executive, Family Rights Group
• Lucy Burns, Head of Communications & Public Affairs, Foundations.

Helping children thrive: How we drive a national focus on parenting?

Tuesday 7 October | 15:30–17:00
Hosted in partnership with Nesta

Speakers:

• Rt Hon Laura Trott MBE MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Education (invited)
• Louise Bazalgette, Deputy Director – A Fairer Start, Nesta
• Lucy Burns, Head of Communications & Public Affairs, Foundations.

This panel will be chaired by Joe Owen, Director of Policy & Government Partnerships at Nesta.