Fermanagh and Omagh Locality Planning Groups Get Up To Speed With Financial Wellbeing for Families During COVID 19

If ever we doubted the importance of financial wellbeing, this pandemic has brought it to the fore and demonstrated how vital the work Money and Pension Service (MaPS) are doing in this field.  In August MaPS Partnership Manager, Margaret McCloskey facilitated for the Fermanagh and Omagh Locality Planning Groups an online training platform session. During this, Margaret outlined the resources that could be used extensively within our work channels, presenting key information to eighteen members who attended the session.

Members have requested that MaPS are invited for another date, due to the success of this meeting – if you are interested in attending this session, please let me know priscilla.magee@westerntrust.hscni.net

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en  – there are 8 core money matters topics on the yellow coloured toolbar at the header of the homepage.  Each topic breaks down into a library of information helping the reader develop their knowledge and understanding, with supporting tools and calculators.   MaPS are happy for us to use the information freely from their website but should you put this into print, please include their logo to endorse the validity of the information.

Three further reasons to visit the Money Advice site are as follows:

• With furlough and payment holidays coming to an end many people will be struggling financially and will need guidance on what they need to do to support their financial wellbeing.  The Money Navigator tool https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/mntdemo – asks a series of questions and produces a personalised action plan with a full support plan of what to do next.  I highly recommend that you carry out a test of this highly effective tool to obtain an awareness of how good it could be for your clients.   Danske Bank has added the link to their website for their customers as an example of its endorsement for the tool. 
• Money Manager https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/tools/money-manager is designed to help people making a new Universal Credit claim or moving to Universal Credit from existing benefits. On completion of 11 questions the tool will produce a personalised advice plan which could include details the person was not aware of, to help them make the most of their money.  I would recommend testing this tool prior to promoting it to your clients.
• You could obtain support for your clients through launching an online chat or communicating with the Money Experts through Whatsapp or speaking with them through their confidential helpline number. Please scroll to the bottom of the https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en homepage for their contact details. MaPS welcomes communication from you or your clients directly – please feel free to pass this information out.   They can also offer a translation service through their helpline – please indicate this requirement at the beginning of the call.

If you would like a to have a one to one meeting with Margaret McCloskey to explore other possible support areas she could help with – please make contact with her initially by email – Margaret.McCloskey@maps.org.uk