Meet Ana: A Life-changing Journey

When Ana* approached Citizen’s Advice, she had just been granted refugee status after living in the UK as an asylum seeker. Ana had fled her home country with her four daughters two years previously, when her life became under threat; like many asylum seekers, Ana and her children were all suffering from PTSD and other trauma-related conditions. 

Her status as an asylum seeker meant that she was unable to work, access healthcare or permanent accommodation while she waited for her refugee application to be processed, meaning she had been living in ‘limbo’ for two years.

Shortly after being meeting with her Better Off Finance Key Worker, Ana moved into her own social housing, and was massively struggling with her finances due to being hit by the benefit cap. Her Key Worker set to work on obtaining the correct benefits for Ana, and also successfully applied for a series of grants, including the Citizen Support Scheme and Merseyside Holiday Fund.

Ana’s Key Worker tried to get Ana’s qualification from her home country transcribed, but as the certificate was incomplete, this proved impossible; they instead had to look at her doing another course, which cost £1500. Her Key Worker approached the European Social Fund manager for Liverpool, who agreed an application of £750 towards the course costs, as well as Ana’s social landlord, who agreed to pay for the remainder through a funding charity. She now has a diploma, which allows her to apply for jobs in the UK.

Since taking part in the Better Off Finance programme, Ana’s mental health has hugely improved. She said:

‘The changes to me and my life have been so great since I started getting support, it has affected my whole life and my family’s.

‘A year ago, I was depressed, and I felt buried with my mental health and life circumstances, but today, I’m applying for jobs and going to interviews. The emotional and psychological improvement is remarkable, and attending self-confidence and finance management courses has been absolutely great.

‘No words can show my appreciation for everything my Key Worker has done for me and my family. I feel more hopeful for the future and I feel confident with her by my side that my life and the lives of my four girls will definitely be better’.

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 programme jointly funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and European Social Fund as part of the Building Better Opportunities Initiative.

A Brighter Future: Carrie's Story

When Carrie* approached Better Off Finance, she was at a difficult point in her life. Having suffered with anxiety and depression for a number of years, 26-year-old Carrie’s confidence and self-esteem had taken a beating; she was struggling to find a job, and had found that many of the organisations she had approached in the past were never quite the right fit for her. 

‘I was referred to Better Off Finance by the Jobcentre. I wasn’t very optimistic at first, I was at my lowest point and I didn’t think anything or anyone would be able to help me moving forward.’

Carrie isn’t alone: around 19.7% of people in the UK suffer with anxiety or depression according to the Mental Health Foundation, and it can have a debilitating effect on their lives. Feelings of hopelessness can impact relationships, work, and physical health, which creates what feels like an inescapable cycle. Coping with anxiety and depression makes it difficult for sufferers to deal with many things in life, and can mean small tasks sometimes seem completely overwhelming and impossible.

Battling through these feelings, Carrie agreed to meet with a Better Off Finance Key Worker. She was instantly reassured. Her Key Worker worked with Carrie to create a support package, focusing on improving her mental health and overcoming the barriers posed by her low self-esteem and confidence.

‘My advisor went above and beyond for me and was always on hand to support me through the difficult time I was having… I learned some simple breathing techniques to help me through difficult moments, and I was referred to several different organisations to help with my mental health.’

From there, Carrie and her Key Worker did lots of practical work around job searching and employability development. With support and encouragement from her Key Worker, as well as attending a self-esteem course, Carrie’s confidence began to blossom. She began to believe in herself and recognise the skills that she had, and began to apply for jobs that she would have previously felt were way out of her reach. Today, Carrie is employed full-time at a call centre for a law firm, something which she never could have imagined a few months ago.

‘I feel the support that I was given has made me a more rounded person and has made me believe in myself more. I am now able to contribute to the family financial pot and this has improved the family dynamic. I know now that I am capable person, and I have a lot of skills and qualities to offer any employer.’

For anyone considering getting in touch with Better Off Finance, Carrie’s wouldn’t hesitate in recommending it, giving special thanks to her Key Worker.

‘The best thing by far about the project was having that one-to-one support from my advisor. She always kept her promises and encouraged me on so many levels to achieve my aims and objectives. I know I still have a long way to go regarding my future career, but I feel now I have a good foundation in developing a happy life for me moving forward.’

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 programme jointly funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and European Social Fund as part of the Building Better Opportunities Initiative.

Free Online Things to Do During Lockdown

We've nearly done it: we've nearly completed one full week of lockdown!

If you're struggling for things to do and wondering what to do over the weekend, fear not - we've compiled some of the best virtual things to do, to make it feel like any other.

Virtual museum tours

Some of the world’s best and most famous museums and art galleries have created virtual tours for people wanting a culture fix during the outbreak. From Musee d’Orsay in Paris to MASP in Sao Paulo, there’s something for everyone! Find a list here.

Google Arts and Culture also have plenty of great cultural content for a browse of some of the world’s best art.

Virtual zoos

Chester Zoo did a live virtual tour of the zoo this week, but they aren’t the only place where you can get up close and personal with wildlife (from a safe distance, of course). Zoos all over the world are taking their animals online, including San Diego zoo and Berlin Zoo.

Online theatre

Theatres across the globe are streaming classic theatre pieces for free online. The National Theatre have just launched their free online streaming service, allowing people to access quality pieces of theatre from the safety of their own home. Even Broadway theatres are moving content online!

Music

Musicians everywhere are still performing for their fans from their own homes, via social media. Take a look at local and international musicians everywhere to see their latest activities! Plenty of music venues are also acting as platforms for many artists to stream shows to their audiences, so have a look at what they have to offer, too.

Food

Struggling with what you could possibly make out of your one last tin of beans, some rice and a bit of salad? Celebrity budget chef Jack Monroe (@BootstrapCook on Twitter) has begun #JackMonroesLockdownLarder on Twitter, where followers send photos of their last remaining ingredients, and she comes up with a tasty meal! A great way to get thinking about simple, healthy food during lockdown, and minimise wastage, too.

Exercise

You needn’t fork out for expensive apps and subscriptions: YouTube is your friend during these times. Professional fitness coach Joe Wicks has launched his ‘PE with Joe’ series, live every weekday morning for children and adults alike to get moving! There’s also tonnes of different exercise videos to choose from on YouTube, whatever your style may be: whether it’s some gentle Yoga with Adriene, or some hard hitting bodyweight training, there’s something for everyone.

Virtual landmark tours

Google Arts and Culture, once again, delivering the goods, with tonnes of online tours of various famous landmarks around the world. Explore the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids, or the Palace of Versailles, all from the comfort of your sofa! You can explore more here.

Google Earth also have tours of some renowned national parks available, including Yosemite and Yellowstone, which you can find here.

Online learning

If you fancy expanding your mind a little while we’re in lockdown, there’s plenty of resources out there to choose from. Khan Academy is great for getting the basics on some key subjects, while Coursera and Ed X have courses from globally renowned universities, including Harvard, Yale, Oxford and Cambride.

There’s also multiple educational platforms for children out there too – the BBC have done a round-up of some of the best here.

9 Cheap Things to Do in Isolation

Nearly everyone, all over the country, will be spending the majority of their time over the next few weeks indoors. So what can you do to pass the time?

Learn a language

Learning a language has so many benefits, including improving your memory. Sadly, it can also be pretty time consuming – meaning isolation is the perfect opportunity to knuckle down and learn your Français from yourEspañol.

There’s plenty of free tools out there to choose from, Duolingo being one of the most popular and easy to use, with tonnes of languages to choose from. You’ll be fluent in no time!

Read some books

It could finally be time to dust off them books that have been sat on the shelves, and get stuck in. If you have a Kindle, Amazon have free downloads for some books, and there’s plenty of other websites out there with licensed, free eBooks, too. 

If audiobooks are more your style, Audible has a free book trial for new users, plus Open Culture and Digital Book have plenty of free resources to offer.

Play some games

It might sound a little childish, but puzzles and games are great ways to pass the time and keep your mind active, too. You might have some old jigsaws and board games lying around the house, but there’s loads of things you can do online as well. Sporcle is a great site for trivia games and quizzes, and try looking on news websites for good daily crosswords. If you’re feeling adventurous, some people are bringing their pub quiz into the virtual world, video calling friends and family to keep the weekly quiz alive!

Get moving

Exercise is so important for our mental health, and being cooped up indoors all day makes it even more crucial. The current guidance surrounding COVID-19 allows us to go out for one form of exercise a day, so try and get out if you can; if not, YouTube is a treasure trove of all the exercise videos you could dream of. Yoga with Adriene is a firm favourite among many, and Joe Wicks has just started a ‘PE with Joe’ session every weekday morning for little ones and parents alike.

Get creative

That thing that you said you always wanted to do but never had the time? Now could be the chance to pick up the pencils or whip out the paint, and get stuck into a creative project, whatever it may be. Creating is also a great release for tension and has loads of therapeutic properties, perfect for these particularly trying times.

Deep clean

It may sound pretty boring, but there’s much to be said for an ordered and clean house. You could use this free time to sort through your wardrobe, give your bathroom a good scrubbing or organise the garden. A redecorating job could also well be on the agenda!

Watch TV

There’s so many streaming platforms out there, it’s hard to know where to begin. Luckily for us, it also means there’s plenty of choice. Get stuck in to a binge-worthy series, or watch some classic films that you’ve never had a chance to see. 

Call people!

Staying connected is crucial for our mental health while we’re in isolation. Most of us are used to going out every day and socialising with our friends, family, and co-workers, so the removal of this can be quite the shock. Be sure to check in on people: give them a call, or use the wealth of video technology to keep up that face to face interaction.  

Do some digital housekeeping

Most people’s phones and computers will look the same: hundreds upon thousands of photos, emails, and documents that we no longer need or use. Taking a bit of time to go through your phone and unsubscribe from emails, or delete photos and unnecessary apps is a great use of time and you’ll thank yourself later.

Better Off Finance: Advice during COVID-19

As Coronavirus guidelines have escalated over the past week, social distancing has become even more important. However, our Better Off Finance partners are still working to provide you with support and advice through this difficult time, over the phone and online.

Find out below how your local partner will be providing support during COVID-19:

Citizens Advice Liverpool

All face to face services have been suspended until further notice.

Their services remain available through digital and telephone channels.

For general advice, click here.

For debt advice, click here.

For help claiming Universal Credit, click here.

Citizens Advice Sefton

Face to face services have been suspended until further notice.

Advice is still available over the phone:

For general advice: 0344 493 0012 (Mon to Thurs 9.30am – 2pm)

For debt advice: 0300 330 1196 

Citizens Advice Knowsley

 All drop in and face to face appointments have been cancelled until further notice.

You can still get in touch here:

Adviceline: 0300 330 9008 (Mon – Fri 10am – 4pm)

Universal Credit Help to Claim: 0800 144 8 444

 

Citizens Advice Halton

Suspension of all drop in and face to face appointments, with increased availability of telephone support.

Helpline: 0344 477 2121

Citizens Advice Wirral

All face to face support has been suspended, but advice is available by phone and email.

Helpline: 0300 33 00 111 (at busy times, there may be a wait to have your call answered)

They have also advised that as the Hubs are not open, to visit your local One Stop Shop if you need food vouchers.

https://www.wirral.gov.uk/about-council/contact-us/one-stop-shops/find-your-nearest-one-stop-shop  

Citizens Advice St Helens

Face to face appointments have been suspended for the foreseeable future, but they will be offering support via phone and email.

Adviceline: 03448 269694

Universal Credit Helpline: 0800 328 5644

Email advice can be found here.

RAISE

Raise have suspended all home visits due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but they will still be providing debt and benefit support over the phone and email.

Email: admin@raiseadvice.org.uk

Helpline: 0151 482 2475

5 Everyday Changes to Save Money

    Here are a few tips you can follow to help you save that little bit extra! These small changes can have a major impact on your annual finances and help you feel more comfortable with your money.

 Money management

Work with a budget. If you’re someone who impulse buys, then a properly thought out budget could become your best friend.

A budget is not something to fear, all it takes is preparation and dedication! By working out your weekly costing for food, petrol (or public transport), any memberships or classes you pay for, subscriptions and of course a treat, you are giving yourself an accurate representation of the budget you can live within. The one rule for this money saving tip is to not overcompensate to make yourself feel better! You must be ruthless in order to see a change.

2.       Use price comparison websites

Shopping around for the best deals is a perfect way to find the cheapest option. This can be for insurance, broadband and maybe even bank accounts. These websites can save you from overspending and can very quickly save you a few quid!

3.       Bulk buying to the rescue

Buying in bulk is probably the easiest way to save on your everyday items. This can apply to your everyday life as well as your business, for example, pens are a common necessity in almost every business. But, buying the odd pack of pens here and there can rack up to a high price whereas if you buy in bulk your getting more bang for your buck!

4.       Turn that heat down

The colder seasons can see us walking in and whacking that central heating right up to take the chill off.

Turning your heating down by as little as one degree and sticking a jumper on can see a decrease of 10% in your heating bill. There’s even apps, like ‘Hive’, which can help you to control your heating away from home, making it that little bit easier to save.

5.       Go generic

Brands can be super expensive to buy and can rack up your shopping bill if they become a repeat buy. Swap that named brand for something generic. With budget supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl, you can find some seriously good quality dupes and much more affordable prices.

Meet Katie: Struggling With Benefit Caps

Katie was struggling with money after her splitting from her husband and having to cover the cost of housing alone. Not knowing how to improve her situation, she approached Better Off Finance, and is now on top of her finances.

Katie got in touch with Better Off Finance (BOF) after being referred by the Citizens Advice. A full-time mum-of-four, Katie’s eldest child was awaiting heart surgery to repair a hole in her heart, and her youngest was also being monitored for cardiac difficulties. Katie’s marriage had broken down in 2017, after her husband was unable to cope with their children’s ongoing health problems. While he still maintains a good relationship with the children, Katie was going it alone.

Katie was struggling with money due to the cap imposed on housing benefits, which meant only £24 of her £78-per-week rent was covered – a common issue since the cap was introduced in 2013. Lack of money had caused Katie to fall into debt to cover housing costs, which had mounted up to £2,800. At the time of approaching Citizen’s Advice, her washing machine was leaking, but with no disposable income to replace it, Katie had to make do.

Official data obtained by housing charity Shelter in September 2019 found that around 370,000 low-income households renting privately struggle financially, as housing benefits fall so far behind rental costs due to the benefit cap. The average monthly shortfall now stands at £113, putting many families at risk of poverty and homelessness.

Through Better Off Finance, Katie was assigned a Key Worker, who sat down and helped her work through her financial issues. Her Key Worker identified that Katie wasn’t receiving all of the benefits to which she was entitled, such as Disability Living Allowance for her eldest child. She was also assigned a Discretionary Housing Payment, and received a grant to purchase a new washer-dryer; she has now been referred to the debt advice team, who are helping her work out what debt-repayment options are open to her.

Since accessing support through Better Off Finance, Katie’s situation has improved. Her finances have become more stable, and the new washing machine has lightened her load at home. She said:

“I am feeling more optimistic and confident and know that my situation will continue to improve… The best thing is seeing the same person and knowing you can turn to them whenever issues arise.”

Katie has now begun a Level 2 Mental Health course, and is starting to feel more confident in herself. She said she’s grateful for the support she’s received from Better Off Finance, and to anyone thinking about accessing support, she would definitely recommend it!

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 programme jointly funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and European Social Fund as part of the Building Better Opportunities Initiative