We’re back with another brilliant success story from our
Better Off Finance Programme. Our key workers around the Liverpool City
Region have been offering support to help individuals improve their financial
capability and offer guidance on how to move their lives forward.
Today we’d like to introduce you to Tilly, a 37-year-old
woman living with her Partner and son who started on the Better Off Finance programme
in February 2017. Tilly was part of the first Better Off Finance group and completed several financial capability sessions with H Panayiotou and
James Calloway at Wirral Citizens Advice.
Tilly joined the project to improve her financial
capability knowledge and told us that since joining the course, she has become much more savvy with her money. She has switched energy supplier and understands more about the process of switching. She has also saved
money on her water bill and feels much more confident shopping around for better
deals. Overall, she has made several savings, £200 a year on
her water bill, £200 a year on car insurance, £360 a year on her energy bills!!
Tilly is now using the website mySupermarket
on a weekly basis, shopping around for better deals on food and
understanding the process of fluctuating food costs. At one of the sessions she had completed a sheet of non-essential spending and discovered that her
£20 a week takeaway habit was costing the family over £1,000 a year.
“I always buy the ingredients to make my own takeaway foods
now, I’m so much more savvy when shopping”
Tilly said the project has helped her to improve her confidence and self-esteem. On finishing her courses, she went on to volunteer for Better Off Finance project, helping within the group
sessions and supporting new participants attending the sessions.
She also started job searching and after a successful application, Tilly recently secured a part
time role as a level one advisor for the 'Ask Us Wirral' service at Citizens
Advice Wirral. This is incredible considering that she told us 'without the support of Better off Finance I would not have even THOUGHT about applying for these kind of jobs'.
Tilly has certainly been on an incredible journey and is proof that with the right support, and the confidence to put yourself forward for opportunities, things can really turn around. A big thank you to her for sharing her experience with Better Off Finance!
Update: Tilly was recently featured in the Daily Mirror about starting her journey as a volunteer with Wirral Citizens Advice which you can read about here! Great news Tilly!
About us:
Better Off Finance is offering residents of the Liverpool City Region who are currently unemployed (although don't have to be claiming benefits), a bespoke programme of support. This support will be provided at a local community venue or at home if a participant prefers.
Each participant will be linked up with their own key worker who will support them to:
- Improve their financial capability through 1-2-1 support and group work
- Access employability sessions within the programme
- Access a Level 2 Accredited ‘Money Mentor’ opportunity
- Progress into training and education opportunities
- Prepare and progress into sustainable employment.
Better Off Finance is a program jointly funded by The Big Lottery Fund and European Social Fund as part of the Building Better Opportunities Initiative
