By Rob Taylor and Sabah Noreen, Financial Inclusion Officers at Resolve Poverty
  
Resolve Poverty’s Money Matters programme has helped families across Trafford, Manchester, Stockport and Rochdale to gain more than £400,000 in household income.
Delivered in partnership with Citizens Advice and Kellogg’s, we deliver debt and benefit advice via local schools to reach families who would not otherwise have accessed support services. Recently, we launched Money Matters in Rochdale, and we are already seeing its positive impact.
Here are some examples of how we have helped:
- Rebecca and Terence, a family with two children, were facing significant challenges due to the rising cost of living. They found themselves spending excessive amounts on repeatedly topping up their gas and electric smart meters. We stepped in to provide tailored support, transitioning their energy account to a more manageable direct debit arrangement. Additionally, we assisted them in successfully applying for Council Tax Support and arranged emergency food aid for their household. In total, the support provided through Money Matters has resulted in benefits of over £5,000 for Rebecca and Terence’s family, offering them much-needed financial relief and stability.
- We also supported a parent struggling to complete a DLA form for her nine-year-old son with autism. She also cares for her 10-year-old daughter with ADHD, autism, and anxiety, and her elderly mother with Parkinson’s. Due to her extensive caring responsibilities, she had to reduce her working hours, impacting the family’s financial stability. Following our assistance, both children were awarded DLA, providing crucial financial relief and significantly easing the parent’s stress, allowing her to focus on caring for her children and mother. The parent expressed deep gratitude, stating that our support made a significant difference in navigating these complex applications. With her new financial entitlements, she has now transitioned to full-time carer, ensuring better support for her children and mother. In total, the support provided through Money Matters has helped the family gain over £16,000 in backdated and ongoing DLA payments and Carer’s Allowance.
In just a few weeks, the Money Matters team has helped Rochdale families to secure a total of £22,114, through food and fuel aid, energy bill assessments and disability benefits. Additionally, the team has completed applications for council tax support and discretionary housing payments, and actively participated in numerous school events to raise awareness of the scheme.
One of the families supported by Money Matters to increase their household income shared the following:
“Our family was in a really difficult place financially. With bills piling up and daily necessities becoming harder to afford, we felt overwhelmed and uncertain about the future. Thankfully, through the charitable support we received, we’ve been able to significantly increase our income. This assistance has not only helped us cover our essential expenses like food, utilities, and rent, but it’s also allowed us to create a more stable and hopeful environment for our family. The relief of not constantly worrying about where the next payment is coming from has been life-changing.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the support from the team at Money Matters. It has made such a positive impact on our lives. It has given us the breathing space to focus on other areas of our lives, like spending more quality time with our children.”
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This article is featured in our Greater Manchester Bulletin.
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