Liverpool City Region Project Launches Ambassador Scheme to Help Local Communities Manage Money Better

A scheme to help people manage their money better and access employment opportunities has recruited seven local ambassadors to help reach people in the community struggling to seek support.

Better Off Finance offers Liverpool City Region residents who are currently unemployed a bespoke programme of support which 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 managing money and progressing into training or education opportunities to allow them to become work ready.

This is achieved through one-to-one support and group work.

To help this, Better Off Finance has appointed seven ambassadors who have all been through the Better Off Finance support scheme themselves.

This enables them to share their own experience, while giving them the tools to go into the community and represent the work the scheme is doing across the Liverpool City Region.

Speaking about the support the scheme was able to offer him, ambassador Michael Pope said: “This support helped me so much, when I didn’t have an income.

“I’m joining the ambassador scheme to spread the word about the support so people can benefit from it.”

Fellow ambassador, Nick Cliffe from St Helens, explained: “Having a key worker for a year was very helpful at a difficult time in my life.

“I’m becoming an ambassador so that I can promote the project that helped me and advise people in my local area who are struggling with financial worries.”

And Jodie Hill, another of the ambassadors, added: “I went to Citizens Advice overwhelmed with my debt. Once I received support I felt more in control of my finances.

“I’m looking forward to giving people the same encouragement I got and getting the word out about the programme.”

Better Off Finance launched in 2017, as a £2.4m programme funded by Building Better Opportunities via the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund.

It is 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 Liverpool-based social enterprise The Women’s Organisation as the lead agency.

Since its launch the programme smashed its target of supporting more than 1,000 individuals and was extended by the Building Better Opportunities fund for a further two years.

Jo Mountfort, Better Off Finance programme manager, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be building on the successes of the project and launching this ambassador scheme.

“The feedback we had from some of the clients from the Better Off Finance programme is that they felt empowered and fired up to help spread the word of the project out in their communities.

“This scheme will help us steer and guide them to be able to do this in a supported way.”

She added: “The fact that they have walked in the shoes of their peers means that they really understand the needs, and we can’t wait to see how things develop.”

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

Better Off Finance Ambassador Scheme Launch!

We’re so excited to announce that we’ve launched our very own Better Off Finance ambassador scheme. We’ve rounded up a group of money savvy individuals who are ready to shout out about the financial and employability support available across the Liverpool City Region.

Each ambassador has been through the Better Off Finance programme and has expert knowledge on how the programme can be used as a catalyst to begin thinking positively about the future. The ambassadors will be key to helping us reach people out in the community who are currently struggling, unaware of services that are available to them.

If you’ve recently been given support from Better Off Finance and would love to stay connected with us through the ambassador scheme, get in touch!

Without further ado, Meet your ambassadors...

Make sure to keep with us to see what our ambassadors are getting up to within the next couple of months. If you see one of our ambassadors out and about at any community events, be sure to say hello! 

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 0151 706 8111 or hello@thewo.org.uk 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

Alex Shares Her Journey Towards a Fresh Start

We hope by now you’ve heard the amazing news that our programme of support has been extended for further 2 years. With more time under our belt, we’ve been working harder than ever offering advice and support across the Liverpool City Region to give people a much more positive outlook on their future.

Today we’re shining the spotlight on one of our participants – Alex who has truly committed to the support we’ve offered and continued to progress herself. Alex, who is a single mum to her 4 children had recently left an abusive relationship and was struggling to manage her low income.

We sat down with Alex to find out more about her experience…

How did you get involved with the Better Off Finance Programme?

I first heard about the programme whilst at Sure Start, through the children’s centre I started to engage with a family key worker who felt the support Better Off Finance had on offer could really benefit my way of life.

What support did you receive whilst on the programme?

I would regularly meet with a key worker at Citizens Advice for 1-2-1 support. Mabel helped me secure a £300.00 grant from Liverpool Citizens Support Scheme that gave me support to get food and basic necessities for my family. I was also awarded £200.00 from the biscuit fund.

I’ve been able to get help to get my Universal Credit sanctions removed and my child's Disability Living allowance in place. I was also given advice around budgeting my money and Mabel helped me source a free bicycle from Merseytravel 

In what ways has the support you were given made a difference?

I now have much better living standards. Living in a private rented accommodation in Old Swan, I had poor living conditions and hardly any furniture. The project helped me to source new beds and white goods for my kitchen including a washing machine. Before, hardly having any furniture made it hard for me to feel comfortable in my own home but now I have a sofa and dining room table.

Describe how your circumstances have changed since receiving this support?

Before the programme, I was at the lowest point in my life, depressed and struggling to cope. Now I’m financially stable, have a home in a good condition and have started a job at a dance studio in Liverpool.

What was the best thing about Better Off Finance?

The best thing about the programme was being able to get my bills and finances on a good path.

Are you accessing any further training?

I'm going to be attending the Money Mentors and My Turn training provided by Better Off Finance.

Do you have anything else to add around your experience on the programme?

Mabel and the Better Off Finance Team have changed my life for the better and I’m very happy I took part in the programme.

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 0151 706 8111 or hello@thewo.org.uk 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

Becky Takes First Steps Towards a Positive Future

After fleeing her partner due to domestic violence, Becky was left struggling with her household budget and was now living alone in a property with her young daughter, panicked by income deductions. 

Having built up rent arrears due to moving over to Universal Credit, Becky was desperate for support after her second-hand home appliances had become faulty and since she wasn’t able to afford to replace them, it started to cause her physical and mental health conditions. 

Becky told us “I tried attending a number of places to get help with my appliances, eventually I came across Citizens Advice who referred me to the Better Off Finance team, if it wasn’t for them, I would have given up”

Through receiving 1-2-1 support from a key worker, She was able to start understanding Universal Credit, record her income and expenditure and crucially have support to apply for grants to replace her appliances. 

“Life has been made easier for me and my daughter and feel like I know how to approach situations now. I’m more confident asking about things and not worrying about getting turned away”

The programme has helped Becky secure £695 worth of grants to replace her appliances which has started to make life for her and her daughter a lot easier. Now ready to begin a fresh chapter in her life, She now has the skills to budget and has started to recommend the programme to her family. 

If you're on a low income and you're struggling with living costs, you can read more about what support you could have access to over at Citizens Advice:

 https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/if-youre-struggling-with-living-costs/

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

Understanding Benefits: Angela's Journey

In 2016/17, over £10 billion in benefits went unclaimed, meaning Britain’s poorest individuals and families were living below minimum standards. Amongst those unclaimed payments were income related employment and support allowance (ESA) and income support and housing benefits.

Looking for the reason people fail to claim benefits can be difficult, with broad factors being identified such as the effectiveness of the benefit, lack of awareness of the benefits available, application procedures and the stigma of receiving benefits.

Sometimes the barrier to getting the right benefits is having the support to properly understand what steps need to be taken next.

Better Off Finance key workers support individuals to understand their benefits, making sure that they are getting everything that they are entitled to. During a recent visit to Life Rooms, 60-year-old Angela was informed about the support available through her local Citizens Advice. Looking for support to gain more confidence and financial support, she signed up with Better Off Finance and met her key worker – Louise.

Through 1-2-1 support, Angela was able to start working through her money issues, along with getting support to improve her mental health. Not having worked since her 20’s, Angela was the primary carer for her parents who passed away within a year of each other, having a major impact on her health that left her hospitalised.

After losing several appeals for ESA support group and PIP,  her key worker Louise helped her to fill out forms and accompany her at meetings to make her feel more comfortable. She was able to be successfully reassessed and has now been given standard rate care PIP giving her an additional disability premium on top of ESA payments. Angela told us: “My income has gone from £102 per week to £253 per week and now I can manage my bills a lot better. Louise also helped me get warm home discount which reduces my electricity bill by £140 per year”

Now that Angela has an increased income, her anxiety levels have been improved along with her confidence “My confidence has grown a little, even though I’m still not well, I now can spot the signs and go back to my psychiatrist if I need to”

She’s now attending a writing group and has recently had her poems published, something which she puts down to her new found confidence.

Thanks to her increase in income, Angela is now able to worry less about the money she's got coming in and focus more on improving her mental health. Many vulnerable people still live on the poverty line today due to not knowing what they are entitled. You can check what benefits you're entitled to at your local Citizens Advice 

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

MY TURN - Dates and Locations

Better Off Finance has teamed up with Citizens Advice & RAISE teams all over the Liverpool City Region to bring back MY TURN which is here to support unemployed men and women looking to build a positive future.

Over the session, you will explore:

• Looking at your thought processes, feelings and behaviors
• Identifying personal visions to help in your relationships
• Positive thinking
• What is confidence and how to improve yours
• How to build your self-motivation
• Techniques to tackle problem solving

The course is completely FREE and open to men and women living in the Liverpool City Region who are currently unemployed 

MY TURN is available in a number of different venues running from 10am-3pm, coming up next:

54 St James Street - Thursday 5th March 2020
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/my-turn-confidence-building-54-st-james-street-tickets-85649884109

The Pride Centre, Kirkby - Tuesday 24th March 2020
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/my-turn-confidence-building-pride-centre-tickets-91978906385

Wirral Citizens Advice - Tuesday 21st April 2020
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/my-turn-confidence-building-wirral-tickets-85763784789

Jubilee Children's Centre, Huyon - Monday 27th April 2020
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/my-turn-confidence-building-knowsley-tickets-92169604769

St Helen's Citizens Advice - Wednesday 29th April 2020
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/my-turn-confidence-building-st-helens-tickets-85764583177

Halton Citizens Advice - Thursday 7th May 2020
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/my-turn-confidence-building-runcorn-tickets-85764713567

Southmead Children's Centre, Knowsley - Tuesday 12th May 2020
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/my-turn-confidence-building-knowsley-tickets-92169913693

54 St James Street, Liverpool - Thursday 4th June 2020
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/my-turn-confidence-building-54-st-james-street-tickets-97156135617

Wirral Citizens Advice - Tuesday 7th July 2020
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/my-turn-confidence-building-wirral-tickets-97156759483

St Helens Citizens Advice - Wednesday 22nd July 2020
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/my-turn-confidence-building-st-helens-tickets-97157796585

Halton Citizens Advice - Thursday 30th July 2020
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/my-turn-confidence-building-runcorn-tickets-97158861771

Please note that there are wider dates across all areas and participants can attend any of these. If the event is sold out, please give us a call to discuss alternative dates in your area.

For bookings or queries please don't hesitate to contact our team via 0151 706 8111 or hello@thewo.org.uk

In addition to the two day programme, participants can progress their next steps with the ongoing support of a key worker. The key workers on this programme are experts in financial capability and can provide a tailored service depending on the individual needs.

This programme is part of the Better Off Finance Programme and is open to anyone who is 18+, unemployed living in the Liverpool City Region. (Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, St Helens, Halton, Knowsley)

This project is funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund

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