Better Off Finance scheme exceeds all targets and extended for further two years

A Liverpool City Region wide scheme to help people improve their employment options through managing their money better has broken all targets and been extended for a further two years.

Better Off Finance was launched across the Liverpool City Region in 2017 with the aim of helping 800 residents from the local authority areas of Halton, Knowsley, St Helens, Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral.

The £2.4m programme, funded by Building Better Opportunities via the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund, was delivered by a range of partners, including Citizens Advice and RAISE, an independent charity providing free advice and training around welfare benefits, debt, and money management issues, with social enterprise The Women’s Organisation as the lead agency.

Better Off Finance provides support to people facing challenges moving towards, or accessing, employment opportunities, and those who, due to a lack of financial capabilities, face barriers that can make it more difficult when trying to find, and keep, a job.

It aims to help people improve their financial capability through managing money and progressing into training or education opportunities to allow them to become work ready.

It has now signed up its 1,000th participant, which the delivery organisations involved say proves it is now more relevant than ever against a background of continuing austerity measures and cuts to social welfare.

Among the success stories so far is Catharine Ramage who left her teaching job due to illness in 2011 and was more or less unemployed for seven years due to her ongoing health issues. 

Jo Mountfort and Catharine Ramage

She joined the Better Off Finance programme and with her key worker’s support managed to get a handle on her finances and feel confident as she made the move into self-employment. She said: “I really feel like he has given me tools for life to maximise my income and minimise my outgoings. I always tended to bury my head when it came to this stuff – now I have the confidence to find and negotiate better deals for monthly necessities. He even helped save me £100 per month on my bills which I can spend on the business!”

As well as support from Better Off Finance, she also worked with the support of Enterprise Hub and The Women’s Organisation and has now set up her own business, ‘Catharine Ramage Editorial’.

She is now an editor and proof-reader able to bring written work to publishing standard. She has edited documents for a range of academic journals and textbooks and written several educational textbooks for children learning English.

“I am now a business owner running my own editorial business from home –the support from my key worker meant that I had someone with me every step of the way whilst I took the leap of faith.”

The success of Catherine’s business means that she can now buy her own house – a dream she had once given up on when claiming benefits.

Also looking to get her finances in order, Wirral mum-of-one, Tilly, used Better Off Finance first to rein in family spending by her and her partner, and then as a springboard to a new job.

She joined the scheme in February 2017 hoping to improve her financial capability.

Soon she was slashing household bills with the aid of comparison websites, saying the programme gave her the confidence to shop around for better deals, including savings of £200 a year on her water bill, £200 a year on car insurance, and an impressive £360 a year on energy bills.

“I’m so much more savvy when shopping,” she said.

But the scheme also helped improve her confidence and self-esteem and after finishing her course she became a volunteer for Better Off Finance, before securing a part-time role as a level one advisor for the 'Ask Us Wirral' service at Citizens Advice Wirral.

Tilly said: “Without the support of Better Off Finance I would not have even thought about applying for those kinds of jobs.”

Tilly

The programme has now been extended through the Building Better Opportunities fund for an additional two years meaning that many more individuals across the city region can benefit from this invaluable support 

Jo Mountfort, from The Women’s Organisation who works on the programme said: “This project has come at a crucial time where the austerity agenda and welfare reform are having a significant impact on our society.

“We are working to support those most affected and seeing people make positive changes in their lives.

“Being able to offer such a bespoke service means that we are supporting participants get to the heart of their issues with the help and support of expert colleagues at Citizens Advice and RAISE.”

Hitesh Patel, chief officer of Citizens Advice Halton, added: “Citizens Advice has been supporting people by offering money advice services for a long time, but with Better Off Finance we have the opportunity to work in partnership with The Women’s Organisation and RAISE, making the programme more accessible to people around the Liverpool City Region.”

Better Off Finance support is available to people who are unemployed in the Liverpool City Region. For more information on the programme contact the team on 0151 706 8111 or at hello@thewo.org.uk

Forced to Work: Tackling Modern Day Slavery

If you hear about slavery, you would probably think about the exploitation of human rights that was abolished in the 19th century, but in fact, slavery still exists today. It’s hard to accept that this practice is still a reality all over the world, with an estimated 40.3 million people in modern day slavery. 

Modern day slavery can take shape in many forms, from being forced to work, being owned or controlled by an ‘employer’ to being physically constrained without freedom of movement. It affects people of any age, race or gender but most commonly those who are vulnerable are being taken advantage of. Originally from Eastern Europe, Karl approached his local Citizens Advice to get support settling back into the community after being a victim of trafficking into the UK. 

Forced into illegal practices and made to work in a car wash for little or no pay, Karl had spent 7 years living in squalor with physical and mental abuse before being rescued by police intervention and brought to a safe house by the Salvation Army. 

After visiting Citizens Advice for a food voucher, it was quickly established that Karl could benefit from extra support with finding full time employment and managing a budget. Due to Karl’s status in the UK as a job seeker he was unable to claim any benefits, meaning it was vital for him to find employment to support himself.

Since enrolling onto the programme, the key workers over at Citizens Advice have been able to support Karl to update his CV and apply for potential jobs. The programme was able to support him to understand contracts, and secure expenses for clothing. 

The Key Worker also spoke to him about the courses he would have access to during Better Off Finance. Karl completed the My Turn training to build his confidence and went onto receive an accredited qualification for attending the Money Mentor ‘Become a Savvy Consumer’ training. 

Often struggling with feeling alone and isolated that has impacted on his overall health, Karl has relished working in a group environment with people who have been supportive and empathised with his situation, he said: “Since I’ve engaged on the project my confidence has increased. The project has given me so much practical support but has also restored my faith in human nature with welcoming smiles and people’s willingness to listen”

Since completing the programme, Karl is now engaged in full time employment and is looking forward to his future.

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.

Please contact us via our Facebook or Twitter pages to make a referral or for further information.

Better Off Finance is a program jointly funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and European Social Fund as part of the Building Better Opportunities Initiative