Financial Inclusion Partnership Presentation 19th June 2008 Advice & Support

840,000 individuals living in relative low income poverty in Scotland (2006/07) Personal debt of £178,755,924 dealt with by Scotland’s CABs (2006/07) Perceptions of financial situation – 47% managing very or quite well (2005/06) Credit Crunch – consumer inflation, mortgage rates and energy prices

Financial Inclusion Money Advice Benefits Advice Young People & Money Financial Education In Schools Financial Capacity In Communities Money Guidance Awareness Education Prevention Third Sector Lending Basic Bank Accounts Credit Union Development Money Advice Financial Education Financial Products & Services Routes to Inclusion Functions Projects Scotcash Western Isles Credit Union Child Trust Funds Savings Initiatives Community Advice Team New Beginning Team Debt Advice Aftercare Cancer & Palliative Care Adviser

West Lothian Council Our Community Advice Team Helped 361 patients at St John’s Hospital get £1.023M extra income Helped 355 families get £1.24M extra income Runs a West Lothian Advice and Information Forum

West Lothian Council Our Energy Advice Service Visited 297 people aged 60+ Helped them save money and access insulation measures worth £299K Stopped 399 tonnes carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere Our Employablity Service advised 220 advice service customers access employment or education opportunities 75% were helped into work or training 77% of these successfully completed what they’d started

West Lothian Council Our Ethnic Minorities Service Dealt with 840 enquiries Developed an advice service for people from A8 countries Developed an Ethnic Minorities Womens’ Group to help women improve work opportunities and to integrate into Scottish society West Lothian Financial Inclusion Network Meets quarterly, with 15 to 20 local agencies participating Is constituting itself and applying for other funding Offers an opportunity to network and to work in partnership

South Lanarkshire Council New Beginning Team Welfare to Work Money Advice

South Lanarkshire Council 263 referrals to partners 388 referrals from partners Attended 71 partnership events Engaged with 1,697 customers

South Lanarkshire Council Community Based Pro-active Strong Partnership Links

North Ayrshire Council Debt Advice Aftercare Provide support to sustain new/vulnerable tenancies Prevent escalation of debt situations Increase access to specialist advice Partnership working

Impact on North Ayrshire Identify Council Tax exemptions Assist with reclaiming bank charges Provide alternatives to doorstep lending Information on alternative fuel provider Support sustainable repayments

Impact on North Ayrshire £ 4,890 Weekly benefit generated £30,411 Backdated benefit £30,409 Grants/Others £ 3,129 Debt written off

Renfrewshire Council Financial Inclusion Specialist Advice Services Project based approach to enhance existing activity and target assistance to vulnerable Cancer & Palliative Care, Mental Health, Housing Awareness and Working For Families

Renfrewshire Council To remove the burden of financial concerns allow them to concentrate on their illness and treatment Provides advice and support on welfare benefits, debt and mortgage repayments Delivered to meet clients needs and tailored for treatment programmes

Renfrewshire Council Immediate high demand for service Partnerships with GP surgeries, hospitals, hospices, district nurses, Beatson Centre, Princess Royal Trust Carers Centre Strong relationships with Macmillan Cancer Support

Renfrewshire Council Impact ; 524 clients, 514 benefit claims, income generated £1,027,320, debt written off £120,271 Development of new drop-in clinics at Royal Alexandria and Southern General Fairer Scotland Fund and Macmillan Cancer Support

East Ayrshire Council Money Advice – Outreach surgeries, Evening and weekend opening times Money Advice Assistants providing ongoing support in partnership with Advocacy Project and Carers Centre

North Lanarkshire Council Self-help Guide Focus Group Introduction to money advice processes Publicity Up to 6,000 copies Evaluation

Glasgow City Council CAIS Online: an online case management system used by all 27 advice organisations in the City. Vulnerable Groups: Projects to increase access to mainstream services for mental health service users and the BME communities. GAIN (Glasgow’s Advice & Information Network) Helpline & Website: The freephone GAIN Helpline ( ) & website ( provide citizens with information, advice and details of their closest GAIN agency.

Dundee City Council Making Money Work – FI project to specifically support people moving off benefits & into work FI Pre-tenancy – to reduce revolving homelessness provides 1:1 FI support before tenancy taken on

Inverclyde Council One stop Shops - integrated approach Grow referral arrangements across community 1870 customers m Debt - 1 m 'Take Up' Financial Education Activity Financial Products Promoted Campaigns

West Dunbartonshire Council Weekly surgeries in the Full Employment Areas. 115 clients have advice and were assisted with lending and credit related queries. A placement in a local CAB to support clients with money/debt concerns. A surgery for tenants in local HA A wage handling service. 92 clients have benefited from this service. Money advice workers forum established. Council Welfare Rights/Debt Advice & Support services established for people with Mental Health & Addiction issues

Council Welfare Rights/Debt Advice & Support service for people with cancer & carers in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support – Beatson Oncology Unit Partnership with local CAB and Clydebank College, focus on transition from welfare to work Local CAB Estate based Take-Up Campaign with Local HA Local CAB Text Advice Service – early stages, includes liaising with youth clubs and groups Local CAB Out of Hours service – Money/Debt Advice West Dunbartonshire Council