Southdown’s Financial Inclusion team recognised at Parliament event
Posted on 17 February 2026
Members of Southdown’s Financial Inclusion team were invited to the National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers’ (NAWRA) 50th anniversary celebration at the Houses of Parliament last month, marking five decades of work to improve access to welfare rights across the UK.
Craig and Lea from the team attended the reception on the historic Parliament terrace alongside MPs, sector leaders and partner organisations. The evening provided an opportunity to connect with colleagues from across the welfare rights community and reflect on the impact of welfare rights advice in supporting people through financial hardship.
Campaign for statutory duty
The event marked the launch of NAWRA’s new national campaign calling on UK governments to introduce a statutory duty to provide social welfare advice. The proposed duty would ensure that advice services are equally accessible to everyone who needs them, free at the point of delivery, and recognised as a core public service.
As active members of NAWRA, Southdown’s Financial Inclusion team shares this commitment to high-quality, independent welfare rights advice. The anniversary celebration offered insight into the sector’s priorities for the years ahead.
Supporting Southdown services
Southdown’s Financial Inclusion team works with frontline staff across the organisation to support clients and tenants accessing the services they’re entitled to. The team provides specialist casework and keeps staff updated on benefit changes and complex regulations.
Vikki Reynolds, Financial Inclusion Manager at Southdown, said: “Financial Inclusion is a vital part of the support work Southdown provides. Our team plays a crucial role in ensuring frontline staff feel confident and well-informed, keeping them up to date with benefit changes and offering reassurance around complex rules and regulations.
“We’re also proud to deliver invaluable casework across the teams we support, helping to remove barriers and create stability for the people we work with. Events like this also remind us that our work goes beyond Southdown. We are contributing our knowledge and frontline insight to national social policy, helping to shape meaningful change on a wider scale.”
