The Better Off Finance Project Has Launched!

800 Individuals Across Liverpool City Region Will Be Supported To Manage Money And Access Employment Through New Project; Better Off Finance

A Liverpool City Region wide programme which will offer support around money management and accessing employment opportunities launched on Thursday 26th January in Halton.

Better Off Finance is a £2.4 million innovative project funded by Building Better Opportunities via the European Social Fund and Big Lottery. Its aim is to connect with more than 800 residents from across the local authority areas of Halton, Knowsley, St Helens, Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral. The project will provide support to people who are facing challenges moving towards or accessing employment opportunities, and those who, due to a lack of financial capabilities, face resulting barriers that can make it more difficult when trying to find and keep a job.

(From L-R) – Maggie O’Carroll; Chief Executive Officer of The Women’s Organisation, Hitesh Patel; Chief Officer of Citizens Advice Halton, Caryn Matthews; Chief Officer of Citizens Advice South Liverpool, Councillor Rob Polhill; Leader of the Halton Borough Council and David Parkinson; Policy and Learning Manager of Big Lottery Fund) 

 The project will offer support to individuals to improve the ability to manage their money better and gain skills to cope with changes in circumstances. Better Off Finance will also help residents across Liverpool City Region prepare and progress into sustainable employment as well as training and education opportunities.

At the Select Security Stadium Halton over 80 individuals from support services across Liverpool City Region heard about the project from Chief Executive Officer of The Women’s Organisation; Maggie O’Carroll and Caryn Matthews, Chief Officer of Citizens Advice South Liverpool, before it was formally launched by Councillor Rob Polhill, Leader of Halton Borough Council. The project is a collaborative effort and will be carried out by 11 different support agencies across the Liverpool City Region with The Women’s Organisation acting as the accountable body.

Hitesh Patel; Chief Officer of Citizens Advice Halton and Shelah Semoff; Partnership Officer from Halton Borough Council

Councillor Rob Polhill said of the Better Off Finance project: ‘I am very pleased that partners from across the Liverpool City Region have developed this innovative support package to help people improve their financial capabilities so that they can find and keep a job. I, and  my colleagues on the Combined authority appreciate the efforts of all those involved in its visioning and development and we are sure that it will make a huge difference to so many people lives and also create and effective model  of support.’

Maggie O’Carroll of The Women’s Organisation said about the project launch; ‘We believe that the Better Off Finance project is a new and innovative way of working towards helping people find employment and stay in employment. Looking at financial capabilities hasn’t been addressed previously and building an individual’s skills in this area is crucial to that.

We are delighted to be working with the partners on this project and are pleased that the Big Lottery fund and European Social Fund recognise that this is an important area that can be addressed for Liverpool City Region.’

Better Off Finance will carry out this crucial work over 2 years and will engage and connect with over 800 residents from across Liverpool City Region and help them, to progress into work.