This moment in history requires clarity and courage. The foundations of our social security system are familiar - fair work, welfare payments, public services, housing - yet these have all been eroded to the point of disrepair. Now is the time to rebuild, and to construct a social settlement fit for the 21st Century.

The election this summer is expected to elect the first Labour government in over 15 years. 2025 will also mark 80 years since the election of the post-war Labour government that established much of the modern welfare state. They built many of the structures that still stand around us, and under enormous financial constraints.

To paraphrase the election manifesto of that government, what matters is whether our aims are backed up by a genuine plan – conceived without regard to sectional vested interests, and carried through to the end.

With a new incoming government, we will be best placed to to push forward those aims and back them with such a plan, if progressive thinkers, campaigners and organisations develop a distinct and united set of recommendations upon which to base a policy agenda. We must make clear that transformation of the welfare state is an urgent and essential challenge that cannot wait or be left to vested interests. This needs to be backed up with an evidence base, a set of outcomes to aspire to, and a suite of robust policy proposals.

This event on Saturday 31st August at the famous Guildhall in Bath will bring together key individuals and organisations for a series of sessions exploring what a social security system fit for the 21st century ought to resemble. It aims to be the first step towards a more united approach to influencing the political agenda around social security - both with the wider public and our newly elected government.

We hope that attendees and panellists will join us for the full day. Arrivals from 9:30am, the event will start promptly at 10am and close at 5:45pm.