As this year's conference takes place, new neighbourhood management schemes are being rolled out all round the country, whether as ODPM Pathfinders, New Deal for Communities' initiatives, or as part of a refocusing of area management strategy within local authorities.

This conference focuses on practicalities of neighbourhood management, rather than the policy. Most of the speakers are practitioners and will address their topics in the form of real-life case studies.

The first session looks at partnership building. The second focuses in more closely on community engagement. The third covers two key topics in the conception and implementation of the NM programme - the funding mix and the baseline study and the final session - can the various providers be persuaded to 'bend' their services towards the greatest needs.

Speakers includes: Chairman: Matthew Pike, Exec Dir, The Scarman Trust; Maria Kyriacout & Sue Charteris, Neighbourhood Management National Network, Sue Bickler, Neighbourhood Manager, Springbourne & Boscombe West Neighbourhood Management; Paul Booth, Dir, Wolverhampton Partnership; Helen Williams, Hd of Neighbourhoods and Sustainability, National Housing Federation; Vince Roberts, Neighbourhood Management Initiative; Chaired by Irene Kszyk, Policy Officer, Leicester City Council; Kellie Hopkins, Community Regeneration Officer, Middlesbrough Council; Lee Heley, Neighbourhood Manager, Interlock Basildon; Sally Thomas, Dir, Social Regeneration Consultants; Chaired by Nick Mannion, Neighbourhood Manager, Knutton Cross Heath Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder; Andy Bailey, Neighbourhood Enforcement Officer, Easington Colliery and Horden Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder; and Kevin Sugrue, Ch Exec, Renaisi.