One to One Support
Further financial support
Longer-term support is available in two ways:
Specialist one-to-one support
Community based support
One-to-one support
If you are struggling to afford everyday expenses (heating bills, food, school uniforms etc), if you have had a sudden change in circumstances and are under financial pressure (stopped work, newly diagnosed health condition, become a carer) or if you are worried about money (missed a payment, debts, planning for your future) we can connect you with specialist help. We will work things through with you including looking at maximising your income (increasing money coming in, reducing money going out), dealing with debts, linking you with support in your community (term-time afterschool childcare, food pantries, school uniform swaps, companionship) and helping you to use money management tools or money saving support.
Over 20 local organisations are providing specialist one-to-one support. Each of the Crisis and Resilience support workers will take a person-centred approach, helping each of their clients to develop a personal resilience plan and providing a range of advice and support. The longer-term goal for every client is to enable them to overcome their financial crisis and strengthen their personal financial resilience.
The help offered is tailored to each person and can incorporate any of the following:
Support to help me
- Manage running the home, cooking on a budget and affording everyday essentials
- Look at whether I can reduce my energy bills or use energy saving measures
- Improve my financial situation and plan for the future
- Work through the emotional side of my money management issues and spending choices
- Access term-time after school care and activities for the children
- Understand what other local help is available
Advice to
- Maximise my income, reduce my outgoings and check for any benefit entitlement
- Identify and apply for any grants or social tariffs I’m eligible for
- Help reduce my expenses and build a budget
- Help me stabilise my finances and keep up with bills
- Understand the debt solutions available to me
- Help me navigate care and support matters
- Work through changes in my family or financial circumstances that are putting my finances under pressure
Plus, workshops and group activities to help me learn budgeting and money management skills.
How to access support…
People can access support by through any Alliance partner as we have a ‘shared front door’.
Age UK Somerset
Age UK Somerset is providing in-depth one to one support to older residents and their carers assisting them with advice on income maximisation, access to help with food, warmth and companionship alongside links into other community support for financial resilience and wellbeing.
Citizens Advice Somerset
Citizens Advice Somerset is providing in-depth specialist advice for individuals and families of all ages. The advice and support will be tailored to your needs, through a personal resilience plan. The specialist help available includes a blend of income maximisation, money and energy advice, advice on changing family circumstances, employment, or housing issues etc. Your personal resilience plan will include how to access wider community support.
Thrive
Thrive Resilience Agents are providing in-depth support and assistance to people who are in financial crisis or who are at risk of financial crisis. Each Agent will work with their client to plan the support provided and this will include a range of help enabling the client to avoid a financial crisis, recover from and re-build financial resilience following a financial crisis.
Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership
Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership are supporting families experiencing financial crisis (or at risk of a financial crisis) by providing term-time wrap-around after school childcare through partnerships with local primary schools and activity centres.
More organisations are in discussion about joining the Alliance and we’ll update this space when we can share more.
Community-based support to help people remain financially resilient
A co-ordinated network of community-based support is available to anyone that wishes to engage and is being delivered by local ‘Anchor’ Organisations. The network of groups and community organisations funded to provide Anchor Organisation services will ensure a joined-up, easy to access support network. Each Anchor organisation will provide community members with a range of assistance with the aim of helping local people to remain financially resilient.
The local offer will vary and will include access to food, community meals, job clubs, warm spaces and more. Each Anchor organisation will host a pathway into the wider range of in-depth support available through the Alliance including the Crisis Payments and Heating Oil scheme.
The grant process for Anchor Organisation funding is delivered by Somerset Community Foundation, and provision will come on stream early to mid-October.
