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Clean Slate has been commissioned to deliver its Quids in! Money Guidance programme in a number of areas, backed by the Crisis and Resilience Fund. This builds on support delivered under the Household Support Fund (HSF) in the West of England and Gloucestershire since September 2022. Through a mix of drop-in services and remote support delivering tailored money guidance, some participants enjoyed financial gains of over £2,000.
Different authorities decide local approaches and in Bath & North East Somerset, for example, the HSF offer included crisis grants. Taking a ‘money-first’ approach, Clean Slate wrapped Quids in! money guidance around free vouchers to enhance participants' financial wellbeing and resilience. Individuals undertook a Money Health-Check review and embark on five to six weeks’ money coaching. They received help with food and energy vouchers, benefits, job-hunting, and reducing their bills. (See more on our core service offer here). At the end of all our programmes, participants revisit their financial resilience assessment and the impact of changes they made. In B&NES in 2025, we recorded money gains averaging £2,318. This approach maps directly to Crisis and Resilience Fund objectives. Our systematised process enables us to demonstrate improved financial wellbeing through maximised income and minimised expenditure. In turn, this reduces deprivation and dependency on crisis payments and emergency food handouts. Non-financial gains and longer-term resilience is recorded in the form of access to specialist support and debt advice services, and increased savings. Engagement and ResilienceSustainable outcomes, ie, resilience, are at the heart of what we do. We offer people food security, money left over at the end of the month, employment options, help with debt, digital inclusion, control, agency and quality of life. The financial gains achieved by individuals represent an approximate return on government investment of 400% in the first year. As these include accessing unclaimed benefits, employment, switching suppliers and changing money habits, the impact continues long into the future. Taking a money-first approach means the positive impact on the local economy is direct and immediate.
In Bristol, we deliver remote support by phone and online to people in financial crisis complementing mainstream services with a focus on accessibility for people from underserved communities. Engagement is enhanced through a proactive referral network and outreach to well-located community spaces and the employment of trainees and staff with lived experience of financial hardship. (See: ELE-Ments for more on lived experience traineeships.) Easy-read materials, and a simplified engagement process, highlight ‘quick wins’ and achievable next steps. We then coach individuals through the first steps and also towards readiness to take advantage of specialist services, such as debt, welfare rights or housing advice. We have also invested in information points to engage residents where we don’t have capacity for staffing. (See: CashPointers for more on digital access service points.) Jam Today... Jam TomorrowResilience is not built in a day. People need help with the day-to-day, well, today. So, we help keep food on the table and rent paid, then work through the rest. Unemployed and under-employed people receive support to find good work when they are ready. Many, though, firstly need to clear the financial blockers limiting the headspace they have for medium and longer-term options.
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Simply, we tackle everyday money worries with steps that yield quick results. This reduces anxiety and opens up options that take a little longer. People gain confidence to take control. They eat better, sleep better, feel better and engage better with specialist services. They’re ready for the next step, whether that is employment, debt advice or a healthier lifestyle.
Case study: “You saved my life”
When Maria first spoke to a Quids in! money coach, she was trying to get by on part-time work and Universal Credit. She was a single mum of three, including one son with autism, in Bath. Each month she was forced to borrow £300 to cover essentials like rent, food, and bills. The pressure shook her mental and physical health, leading to time off sick.
A benefits check revealed Maria was missing out. With our help, she successfully applied for Council Tax Reduction, disability benefits for her child, and Carer’s Allowance. She was also able to get the benefit cap lifted. Navigating the paperwork and Jobcentre processes wasn’t easy but with one-to-one support Maria secured over £1,300 extra every month.
The impact went beyond her finances. Maria grew in confidence, began opening and understanding official letters, checked her bank balance regularly, and made more informed spending decisions. She subscribed to the Quids in! Readers Club (email service) and used its practical tools like the Budget Planner to stay in control.
With her new income, Maria could pay bills on time and stop borrowing. For the first time in years, she could look ahead. As Maria told us: “With the [support] you gave me, you saved my life.”
A benefits check revealed Maria was missing out. With our help, she successfully applied for Council Tax Reduction, disability benefits for her child, and Carer’s Allowance. She was also able to get the benefit cap lifted. Navigating the paperwork and Jobcentre processes wasn’t easy but with one-to-one support Maria secured over £1,300 extra every month.
The impact went beyond her finances. Maria grew in confidence, began opening and understanding official letters, checked her bank balance regularly, and made more informed spending decisions. She subscribed to the Quids in! Readers Club (email service) and used its practical tools like the Budget Planner to stay in control.
With her new income, Maria could pay bills on time and stop borrowing. For the first time in years, she could look ahead. As Maria told us: “With the [support] you gave me, you saved my life.”
