Money Too Tight To Mention?
Becky was a new face in the village when one of Clean Slate’s peer workers introduced herself and asked how she was. Cash was tight so we offered Becky a Money Health-Check. She did the quiz and explained the local shops were dear but the bus to town wiped out half her food budget. We asked the school to switch to food vouchers for her kids’ lunches. Now Becky could shop online and get it delivered free. She could shop around and bag the bargains too. We helped her receive grants of around £1,500 and Becky hopes to save £250 this year.
Our Peer Workers have been recruited after attending programmes Clean Slate has run. They know what it’s like to struggle and understand how hard it can be when unemployed. They work from our Quids In Centres in Bath and North East Somerset, London, Gloucestershire. Peer Workers help us offer drop-ins and workshops where people can explore ways to get a grip of our finances.
During lockdown, we set up a money guidance service to support low-income households by phone and online. A team of Support Workers are on hand to help anyone in areas near to one of our Quids In Centres. In other areas of the UK, people are referred to us by their landlords, health services or Jobcentre Plus. We also work with partners delivering our service in the North East, North West and Midlands.
Times were already tough for millions of us before lockdown. By May 2020, however, Citizens Advice found four million tenants had missed at least one rent payment during the pandemic. Six million missed at least one bill payment. This crisis has deepened since.
During lockdown, we set up a money guidance service to support low-income households by phone and online. A team of Support Workers are on hand to help anyone in areas near to one of our Quids In Centres. In other areas of the UK, people are referred to us by their landlords, health services or Jobcentre Plus. We also work with partners delivering our service in the North East, North West and Midlands.
Times were already tough for millions of us before lockdown. By May 2020, however, Citizens Advice found four million tenants had missed at least one rent payment during the pandemic. Six million missed at least one bill payment. This crisis has deepened since.
Money Health-Check
Clean Slate’s unique Money Health-Check Service helps people who are struggling to maximise their income, reduce spending and improve how they manage money. The money guidance that follows can help people get back in control, secure their housing and ‘future-proof’ their finances.
Our Money Health-Check Service revolves around the Future-Proof Finance Quiz. It’s an easy-to-follow toolkit asking questions about our financial habits, attitudes and needs. It then recommends the next steps we might take. Sometimes we need specialist help and Clean Slate can point us in the right direction.
There are currently four levels of service on offer:
Our Money Health-Check Service revolves around the Future-Proof Finance Quiz. It’s an easy-to-follow toolkit asking questions about our financial habits, attitudes and needs. It then recommends the next steps we might take. Sometimes we need specialist help and Clean Slate can point us in the right direction.
There are currently four levels of service on offer:
1. Self-Serve
A basic version of the Future-Proof Finance Quiz is available on our money skills website at quidsinmagazine.com. You can take this yourself and follow the steps it recommends at the end. Give us your email address and we’ll send you the actions you might take.
2. Set-Up and Go
Some people just need a quick overview. We can take you through the Money Health-Check process and talk through everything you have going on. This helps us pick out the two or three most important steps you might take from a longer list of possible actions.
Available through some housing associations.
3. Walk the Walk
Most people can make a big difference to their finances in five to six weeks. Having someone on hand to check-in with each week helps keep the process moving. Soon, less money is going out the door and maybe more is coming in. We’ll walk you through the process and, at the end, we’ll count up how much has changed.
Available at your local Quids In Centre (check if you have one here), through some housing associations, and via Work Coaches at certain Job Centres.
4. Claimants in Crisis
Even before the pandemic, many people felt like they were caught in a whirlpool of debt and despair. Before you’re dragged under, we can help people find ways to get their heads back above water. We are on hand for up to 12 weeks and can help with things like applying for grants and extra help.
We can’t change the world for you but we can help you find a little breathing space, money-wise. Having help to work through your money issues can also create the headspace to think about specialist support to help you cope.
Available through Work Coaches at certain Job Centres.
A basic version of the Future-Proof Finance Quiz is available on our money skills website at quidsinmagazine.com. You can take this yourself and follow the steps it recommends at the end. Give us your email address and we’ll send you the actions you might take.
2. Set-Up and Go
Some people just need a quick overview. We can take you through the Money Health-Check process and talk through everything you have going on. This helps us pick out the two or three most important steps you might take from a longer list of possible actions.
Available through some housing associations.
3. Walk the Walk
Most people can make a big difference to their finances in five to six weeks. Having someone on hand to check-in with each week helps keep the process moving. Soon, less money is going out the door and maybe more is coming in. We’ll walk you through the process and, at the end, we’ll count up how much has changed.
Available at your local Quids In Centre (check if you have one here), through some housing associations, and via Work Coaches at certain Job Centres.
4. Claimants in Crisis
Even before the pandemic, many people felt like they were caught in a whirlpool of debt and despair. Before you’re dragged under, we can help people find ways to get their heads back above water. We are on hand for up to 12 weeks and can help with things like applying for grants and extra help.
We can’t change the world for you but we can help you find a little breathing space, money-wise. Having help to work through your money issues can also create the headspace to think about specialist support to help you cope.
Available through Work Coaches at certain Job Centres.
