Crisis, the leading national charity for people experiencing homelessness, appointed Whitehouse Communications to design and deliver an ambitious Westminster Summit bringing government, campaigners and communities together to help end homelessness. We brought together Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner, former Minister for Homelessness Rushanara Ali, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, cross-party MPs, campaigners and speakers with lived experience. The Summit secured extensive national, broadcast and trade media coverage.
The challenge
Crisis is the leading national charity for people experiencing homelessness in the UK, working to end homelessness through campaigning, research and direct services. The charity regularly engages with Government and Parliament on the policy and legislative decisions that affect people facing homelessness.
With government momentum building on the issue, Crisis wanted to convene an ambitious Summit that would bring together MPs, ministers, sector leaders and people with lived experience to explore real solutions to ending homelessness. The charity appointed Whitehouse Communications to design and deliver the Summit with high-profile speakers, a dynamic agenda of breakout sessions and a clear focus on actionable policy outcomes, all within a three-month window.
Our approach
Whitehouse Communications worked closely with Crisis to develop a live project plan and to deliver the Summit end-to-end within the three-month window, from concept through to event delivery on the day.
The work included:
- Securing a high-profile Westminster venue and curating a list of compelling keynote speakers from across government, sector and lived-experience voices.
- Building guest lists spanning ministerial, parliamentary, civil service, sectoral and local authority stakeholders.
- Developing a strong narrative for the Summit’s aims, underpinning all communications from web content to keynote and guest invitations.
- Managing RSVPs, event logistics, branded event assets including a digital programme, and tailored speaker briefings for keynote and breakout session speakers.
- Overseeing all on-the-day logistics, from guest registration to speaker liaison, to ensure a seamless attendee experience.
The outcome
The Summit brought together ministers, parliamentarians, government leaders, the voluntary sector and people with lived experience to discuss how to end homelessness, with powerful keynote speeches, panel debates and breakout sessions in which leading practitioners and policy experts shared bold ideas for change.
Speakers included:
- Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner.
- Former Minister for Homelessness Rushanara Ali.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
- Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development Tom Copley.
- A cross-party MP panel: Paula Barker MP, Rachel Blake MP, Vikki Slade MP and Chris Vince MP.
- Journalist Dan Hewitt, recognised for his award-winning work on Britain’s social housing crisis.
- Campaigners Kwajo Tweneboa and Lara Oyedele.
- Speakers with lived experience, whose contributions were widely regarded as the most powerful of the day.
The Summit secured extensive coverage across national, broadcast and trade media.
In their words
