Pound 4 Pound KHG innovation fund winner 2010 Laura Leeves – Head of Income David Leeves – Head of Community Sustainability

Pound 4 Pound This project was one of KHG’s Innovation Fund winners last year securing just under £10,000 of funding to provide free money management and basic budgeting workshops targeted at younger residents (16-34yrs)*. *2010 Orbit South Status Survey showed 38% of respondents in the age category experience difficulty meeting rent payments compared to 20% overall and just 5% of 60+

Pound 4 Pound Aims To enable younger residents to manage their personal finances more effectively by improving budgeting skills and understanding of borrowing / saving options, bill payment and debt prioritisation. To maximise individual’s income through debt awareness and benefit take up thereby increasing rent paying capacity, and reducing arrears for the landlord organisations involved. To establish a sustainable legacy for all KHG members to access training skills and resources and deliver similar programmes in house. Overall – to support residents in building their financial confidence and to successfully sustain their tenancies.

Pound 4 Pound Process and Outputs Establish Steering Group and appoint a delivery partner – ‘Benefits Made Simple’ Deliver 3 Train the Trainer sessions 27 KHG staff members trained (112% of target) Deliver 7 interactive and fun resident workshops across Kent 36 KHG residents trained (51% of target) in mixed groups from different landlords Make training resources available to all KHG members – now on KHG web site Produce evaluation report (October 2011) Tracking participants at 3, 6 and 12 months – underway with individual providers

Pound 4 Pound Workshop in progress

Pound 4 Pound Feedback and Outcomes Self assessed increase in financial confidence rose from 44% to 74% i.e. a 60% increase in their own understanding All participants issued with a branded ‘money organiser’ pack, course workbook, budgeting sheets and calculator. Quotes: –“The games made the learning more fun” –“I feel happier now that I know where to go for help” –“I now understand what differences ‘APR’ can make – it really opened my eyes” –“I’ll try not to panic too much and contact people that can help” –“I now go shopping with a friend and swap shopping lists so that I’m not tempted to buy items I’m not intending to.” –“The bit about Loan Sharks, because I don’t want my legs broken”

Pound 4 Pound Case Study Mr X (Orbit resident) – single man, in employment and receiving partial Housing Benefit. Rent arrears of just over £1000 (June ’11), court order not being maintained and we were on the point of applying for eviction warrant. Self confessed “head in the sand” attitude to his arrears. Our Welfare Benefits Adviser had been working with him and encouraged him to attend a local ‘Pound 4 Pound’ workshop. Pre-course self assessment of 8 / 40 (20% confidence level) Post-course assessment 31 / 40 (77% confidence level) One thing he would change was to prioritise managing his rent arrears Since attending the course he has made (reasonably!) regular payments and arrears have reduced to c.£700 in just over a month.

Pound 4 Pound Learning points Recruitment of residents was particularly problematic and attendance targets not met (51%) and a high drop out rate of those recruited. Most successful workshops were in the very local ‘community’ venues i.e. not in our offices and where we made the transport arrangements ourselves; cost implication but more effective. What worked best: attendance incentives/rewards, ringing round reminders, intensive support, childcare and travel costs paid / organised, avoiding school/holiday times, limited to 5 hours, lunch included. Be prepared to put in a lot of time and admin resource into co-ordination and delivery. Those who did manage to get along learnt a lot and it helped to form a positive relationship with their landlord.

Pound 4 Pound Thank you to our partners Steering group: Amicus Horizon, Sanctuary, MHS Homes, Canterbury CC, Dartford BC, KHG, Orbit South Also involved in the project: Casa Support, Moat, Riverside, Shepway DC, Gravesham BC, Affinity Sutton, Sevenoaks DC, Hyde Housing, Southern Housing Group, Maidstone BC and Benefits Made Simple.