Clean Slate has delivered its Quids in! Money Guidance programme to residents in crisis under Household Support Fund 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 have enjoyed financial gains of over £2,000.
Different authorities decide local approaches and in Bath & North East Somerset, for example, the leading offer was a £150 crisis grant. Taking a ‘money-first’ approach, Clean Slate wraps Quids in! money guidance around free vouchers to enhance participants' financial wellbeing and resilience. Individuals undertake a Money Health-Check review and embark on five to six weeks’ money coaching. They get 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 the programme they revisit their financial resilience assessmet and we record their money gains, which in 2025 averaged £2,318.
Different authorities decide local approaches and in Bath & North East Somerset, for example, the leading offer was a £150 crisis grant. Taking a ‘money-first’ approach, Clean Slate wraps Quids in! money guidance around free vouchers to enhance participants' financial wellbeing and resilience. Individuals undertake a Money Health-Check review and embark on five to six weeks’ money coaching. They get 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 the programme they revisit their financial resilience assessmet and we record their money gains, which in 2025 averaged £2,318.
Engagement and Resilience
Measuring sustainable outcomes, ie, resilience, is key to our approach. We record and report improvements in food security, budget surpluses, employability, debt management, 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 achieved 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, and coach individuals 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.)
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 achieved 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, and coach individuals 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 Tomorrow
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Resilience is not built in a day. People need help with the day-to-day 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.
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. |
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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. 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 hit 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, and had 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, and had 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.”
