More than eight million people across the UK need to get debt advice and over 12 million more live on the edge, according to research from the Money and Pensions Service. Another 12.6m people are now at risk financially, it says, ‘meaning they’re struggling to keep up with bills and borrowing commitments, using high-cost credit or unable to afford food or essentials’.
With barriers to accessing services including stigma, feeling overwhelmed and a fundamental shortage of debt provision, a major response is required from community programmes.
Since 2008, Quids in! Money Guidance has developed information, training and support to help social tenants, benefit claimants and low-income earners stretch and grow a limited budget.
Quids in! now offers training to non-financial advisors (including frontline staff and volunteers) in health, housing, employment and other support roles. Sessions are designed to increase their confidence and access practical support to be able to talk money with their service users, tenants and customers.
Professional tutors help participants explore why financial resilience matters. We look at an interactive, online toolkit for advisors and explore ways to help people ‘future-proof their finances’, especially those who are vulnerable and those who have moved (or will move) onto Universal Credit.
Participants develop their understanding of issues around financial inclusion, capability and resilience. They also explore how these affect outcomes within their own service and identify ways to confidently promote financial resilience. Outcomes include:
- Understand of the principles of promoting financial resilience
- Improved confidence to talk money with clients within professional boundaries
- Ability to offer guidance (promoting self-help) and share information, but knowing when to signpost financial advice, if required (a regulated activity)
- Established goals and increased motivation
- An understanding of further support on offer from Quids in!, (including its financial resilience toolkit and impact measurement methodology)
Details of forthcoming sessions can be found here, and include:
- Developing the Confidence to Talk Money
- Universal Credit: Mastering Mechanics & Practical Support for Claimants
- Supporting Clients with Budgeting
Customised programmes are also available to organisations.