Our funding enabled Ella’s to support 35 survivors in developing financial resilience and independence skills. To achieve this four frontline staff attended and completed Community Money Advice’s Budget Coach course. All women supported have developed and implemented a budget plan and the staff have felt more confident in providing advice and support to them and helping them make informed decisions about their finances. Their outreach case-worker commented,
“‘Supporting our service users through anything financial, whether it is looking at budgeting or applying for benefits can cause a great amount of stress. A lot of the women have never had to manage their own money and so this can be overwhelming. Having a support worker there to guide them has been incredibly beneficial, and since the training I have definitely felt more confident in knowing what I can help with, and where to go for support.”
As a result of this grant they have been able to access additional funding from Quaker Social Action to offer additional group budgeting courses to continue supporting women to develop their own budget plans.
Our funding enabled TASC to deliver their Switched on Communities project to 126 older people who lived in Kirby and Knowsley by funding a 6-hour-a-week ‘older advisor’ post. They provided supported digital access, one to one support and advice, two online money management training sessions and an overview of benefits to local agency partners.
The challenges and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the various lockdown measures impacted TASC’s planned delivery. Locally due to lockdown restrictions there was a shortage of provision of advice services, TASC’s flexible hybrid approach to working enabled them to keep working and supporting vulnerable older people throughout restrictions. This was noted as an important driver for older people to seek support and address their digital and financial exclusion who are less likely to claim their full entitlements, or are too proud to ask for help.
This project delivered life skills training using Centre Point’s Life Wise training modules to 60 homeless and vulnerable young people. Trinity provide a holistic approach through structured learning, as many clients have opted out of formal education, addressing emotional needs and supporting those with mental health challenges. Each participant received up to 50 hours of direct input, support and mentoring over a 12 week period, provided by a designated key worker and a trained volunteer mentor. Participants improved their budgeting skills to sustain tenancies, as well as gain accreditations and qualifications to help them secure voluntary or paid employment.
As a result of the training received, 5 people moved into Trinity’s own housing project with the assurance that they had the skills to sustain a tenancy for the long term. 53 people secured voluntary or paid employment - including two cleaners and a kitchen porter employed directly by Trinity. This course enabled those who find life challenging to look at their life choices realistically with support, and find better ways improve their situation rather than continuing to avoid it.
This project employed an experienced and qualified financial capability advice worker for 8 hours per week to provide specific support and training to carers and those living with dementia. Working in partnership with Hertswise, (an innovative countywide support service to support people living with dementia and their carers) 14 talks were given at local dementia support groups. Topics for the talks included: carer and disability benefits; council tax exemptions; marriage allowance for income tax; reducing energy outgoings, switching supplier and switching to metered water; social service care costs, referrals and disability adaptations; TV licensing rules, mobility including blue badges, bus and train passes, equipment and disabled parking spaces; wills and powers of attorney (PoA), court of protection and PoA refunds, and how to avoid scams.
Following on from the talks, over 136 hours of detailed support and advice was given to 50 individuals needing further help to make the most of their finances. Some of the achievements which were gained included; Attendance Allowance awards, Severe Mental impairment discount backdated, marriage allowance for income tax backdated, Power of Attorney refunds.
PACE’s Debt Advice team developed a few years ago their own money skills course, ‘On Track’ aimed at supporting people to find their own route map to financial freedom. On Track is a fun, interactive personal money management and financial capability 10 hour course run over 5 weeks, it encourages participants to look at the real reasons behind their financial difficulties. They focus on the practical and psychological issues that can lead to unmanageable debt. Each participant is given a comprehensive financial capability On Track resource pack which included workbooks, a personal finance journal, money tracker, template letters and much more.
Our grant funded the delivery of 14 courses benefitting 154 participants. As a result of taking the course, PACE further supported some of the participants, by taking them on as clients at their Debt Advice Centre, and for others made referrals to their Foodbank and their Counselling Service. Several participants were also recruited as volunteers to support future courses.
Our funding enabled Wipers to deliver 4 rounds of their Business and Life Skills programme - The Enterprise Course. Working in partnership with the Youth Offending Teams from Hammersmith & Fulham, Camden, Enfield and Islington, 43 young people from these London boroughs accessed the course. In total 32 young people completed the course and gained an accredited Level 2 AQA qualification in Business & Life Skills.
Each course comprised of 8 weekly 2 hour workshops. A variety of fun, dynamic and interactive youth work skills were used to enhance their financial capabilities and to increase their social and personal development.
This grant has enabled Wipers to develop new strategic partnerships across London, further cementing their reputation of being a specialist provider in working with hard-to-reach vulnerable young people.
We funded 7 Aspire Community Financial Stability Courses (a 3 hour session delivered once a week for 3 weeks using CAP Money Course resources). 68 vulnerable people benefitted from completing the courses. Each session had 3 elements, financial education, financial wellbeing and group discussion.
The course integrated practical life skills and personal support. Those who needed additional support were referred onto specialist debt advisors for help.
We funded the appointment of a Financial Capability Officer for one day per week for a year. Over this year they recruited and trained a team of 4 volunteer Money Skill Advisers, who provided 1:1 financial capability support to 185 clients. Training and awareness sessions were delivered to frontline staff and volunteers who work with vulnerable groups including training on financial abuse.
The project was publicised across Staffordshire, using social media, press releases, informative posters and leaflets targeting foodbanks, schools, and other local advice agencies.