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In accordance with its aims and objectives and with the financial
support of Glasgow City Council, Money Matters provides services
in the following areas:
1- Money and Debt Advice Services
This service provides high quality advice services to local
residents on the following issues"
- Budgeting, welfare, fuel and energy efficiency, Housing, Representation
at court & tribunals
As part of the process of engagment, in offering money and debt
advice services, all of the other difficulties surrounding a
client's needs will be looked at as a single whole. It is hoped
that the client will gain in self-confidence and be more able
and willing to turn money difficulties into personal benefits.
Welfare Rights, Advice and Representation
This service provides information, advice and support to local
people assisting them to become more aware of their rights.
Equally, where necessary, Money Matters provides representation
on a client's behalf at hearings or tribunals. The demand for
this service has seen a continual growth over years requiring
more and more of the staff time devoted for this service.
Working With Mental Health Patients Care
Projects
This service aims to tackle poor health as a consequence of
poverty and has developed information materials, leaflets and
campaigns to raise awareness within the local community, and
also within schools, on the principal relevant issues concerning
debt prevention, poverty reduction and health improvement in
the local area.
The education service has information sessions integrated into
the local schools' curriculum and has run a creative writing
competition in local schools. The service also produces and
regularly updates a wide range of plain English public information
leaflets to raise awareness of the far reaching implications
of the debt and poverty cycle.
Working
with Workless Households
This service is aimed primarily at long term unemployed households.
When a family or an individual who was dependent on state benefit
for a long period, wishes to enter or re-enter the job-force,
problems will arise over the payment of household bills and
expenses (e.g rent, council tax) which they will now be liable
for.
In order to facilitate the process of re-adjustment and acceptance
of new responsibilities for the individuals and households involved,
Money Matters works with them and their new employers to improve
their budgeting skills and take control of their financial responsibilities.
Drug Alcohol and Dependency Problems
As with many mental health referral problems, Money Matters
receives a great deal of referrals of people with drug, alcohol
and other dependency problems. These come from GPs and other
statutory agencies.
The service provided for this type of clients involves advice
on money and debt issues and a great deal support which requires
patience and persitence.
Child
Poverty
The eradication of child poverty within a generation is the
stated aim of current government policy. The work which Money
Matters does in relation to health promotion, debt advice and
money education, involves the project in child poverty issues.
Money Matters takes a preventative view of debt and money problems
and through its work in schools , it aims to educate children
from primary school age as to the ease with which money and
debt issues can arise.
Money Matters has created information sessions on debt issues
and preventative budgeting which have been integrated into the
local schools.
In-Work benefits
The same kind of problems affecting people in the spiral
of workless households, affect also those who are in the early
stages of returning to work. Many of those in this situation,
are either people who are physically or mentally disabled not
well equipped for the responsibilty and obligations of budgeting
and what further benefits they may be able to claim.
Money Matters is already working with Govan
Intiative, with Openings at Charles Street, Govan, and with
Glasgow City Council
further education providers in advising returners to work on
the benefits which are still available to them while remaining
in work.
Pathways To Work
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