Hertfordshire Financial Capability & Inclusion Forum

1. Hertfordshire Financial Capability & Inclusion Forum SUPPORT PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS & CLIENTS Survey Analysis and Shared Information from meeting held 13th January 2014

2. Contents • Introduction • Encouraging Saving and Affordable Credit • Discouraging Payday Loans • Appliances, Furniture and Furnishings • Ideas and Actions

3. Introduction • Initial sharing of information at Housing Providers’ meeting in December • Survey developed and circulated to wider group • 15 responses received prior to meeting 13th January • This document also includes further links and additional information discussed at the meeting

4. Encouraging Saving and Affordable Credit HOUSING STAFF Financial Inclusion Income Teams Support Workers RESIDENTS Potential/New People with debt/financial issues ADVICE Internal and/or referred to: External agencies (see below) INFORMATION Leaflets Own Websites Other Sites (Examples and links below) TRAINING/EVENTS In-house, external and partnership events (Further information below) CREDIT UNIONS Range of relationships (see below)

5. Money Advice – who does what * Resources and services available will vary between different organisations

6. Information Provision- examples/links Thrive Homes North Herts Homes Film – “Money Made Simple” Money Saving Expert Website HCC Money Advice Unit

7. Financial Capability Training/Events • For your clients/residents: • The Hertfordshire CABx can deliver this, contact Marion Seneschall rickmansworthcab@cabnet.org.uk or Carole Royce astf.hatfieldcab@cabnet.org.uk • NB the challenge is how you promote/package this so that the people who need it attend • Local events – the Money Makeover events in Welwyn Hatfield were very successful in 2013 – 100 people in total attended. • For professionals – the HCC Money Advice Unit provides training on Welfare Reform etc for frontline workers in the voluntary and housing sector. Contact: Gary.Vaux@hertfordshire.gov.uk • Training Resources – a range of resources are available via the HTDC website for use by those delivering financial capability training. • If you have resources available to share with others email sarah.elliott@hertscf.org.uk so we can continue to improve and update the site

8. Credit Unions –Range of Relationships with Housing: • Promotion • Referrals • Partnership Working • Integrated in support team (e.g. YMCA) • Specific products/agreements e.g.: • Funding/underwriting loans (NHH) • Managed Accounts for tenants (NHH/Hertsavers) • CredEcard (Watford CHT) • Jam Jar Accounts – topical interest due to Welfare Reforms • But complex to manage and costly to provide • Other ventures launching in advance of Universal Credit: • E.g. Post Office pilot in Harpenden and Bishop’s Stortford

9. Discouraging Payday Loans TALK ABOUT IT 1:1 or small groups Simply demonstrate how debts can escalate Compare with alternatives e.g. CU loans Negotiate alternative repayments PREVENTION Training and Education Articles and Leaflets PROMOTE/PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES Own emergency loans (NHH, WCHT) Credit Union Loans Foodbanks Grants e.g. HWAS, Local funds National Housing Federation – My Home Finance and Contents Insurance Quids In

10. Support for Appliances, Furniture or Furnishings • Information and referrals – furniture schemes, white goods schemes, Freecycle • Financial help • Small grants, vouchers or discounts at furniture schemes (B3 Living, NHH, Riversmead) – often focussed on new tenants • Assistance to access grants e.g. Turn2Us, HWAS, Local Hardship funds (North Herts), DWP budgeting advances, Local trusts and charities e.g. SAFA • CU loans for creditworthy clients • Other support • Recycle furniture from voids and families downsizing (Riversmead) • Negotiate discounts/deals with suppliers (WCHT investigating)

11. What else has worked well • Riversmead – partnership working with CAB and Genesis Housing • North Herts Homes – fund worker from HYH for tenants under 25 • A contribution from the individual to add sense of value and own esteem (YMCA) • Ensure tenants aware of support available from your team and get help early on (Guinness South) • Having a good rapport with external providers and regular communication/updating (Howard Cottage)

12. Key issues • Cuts in benefits and welfare have increased demand • Difficult to access help from HWAS: • Updated information has been requested from HCC and will be circulated • Problems in obtaining repayments from crisis loan borrowers (St Albans CU)

13. Ideas for Discussion • Central directory* for referral agencies (Riversmead, Paradigm, Sanctuary) • Improved awareness of services and criteria* (YMCA) • Newsletter with updates on what’s available* (Howard Cottage) • Email database to ask other members of the forum about experience in dealing with particular situations* (Howard Cottage) • Low cost packages with suppliers (WCHT) • Improved digital inclusion is a key priority (NHH/Digital Unite) • Planning to train up Digital Champions * Outcome of discussion at the meeting is on next slide

14. Information on Services, Grants etc • The Herts Direct website has an alphabetical, categorised directory of community organisations • Provides overview and contact details, but may not be 100% comprehensive or up to date • Includes – Advice on Money and Debt; Furniture Schemes; Grant-making organisations • More detailed information such as up to date eligibility for support or funding could be considered as part of the CAB Advice Services Transition Fund projects? • Further discussion and brief will be required

15. Sarah ElliottDevelopment WorkerHertfordshire Training & Development Consortium01707 251351sarah.elliott@hertscf.org.ukwww.htdc.org.uk HTDC is a project led by Hertfordshire Community Foundation, registered charity number 299438.