Since the pandemic began, many families and communities across the UK have been thrown into financial chaos. Over a quarter of households have faced a reduction in income (Bank of England); issues of unemployment, furlough, Universal Credit, bills and arrears have impacted millions of families.

Through an Allchurches Trust grant, the Just Finance Foundation was able to expand its COVID Cash Course, an information and signposting workshop, empowering churches and community leaders to help their communities through a train-the-trainer model. This has now benefited over 30,000 individuals in need of signposting, resources, and accessible financial information.

Our colleagues in the Black Country have launched a new campaign to improve the financial health and resilience of employees across the Black Country, and encourage workforce savings through credit unions.

What would you do if we gave you £15 right now?

Treat yourself? Save it for a rainy day? Invest it? Give it to a loved one?

What would you have done with £15 when you were younger?

Would this be any different?

Our partner in the Black Country recently met with Gabi from The Big Issue in the Midlands to chat about the impact of their staff attending a Cash Smart Credit Savvy, Training the Trainer course.

Keely Flowers is a local teacher. She is also project manager of Ablewell Advice (Image copyright - Ablewell Advice)

Black Country Chamber President Julie Cunningham alongside Revd Cassius Francis, from Just Finance Black Country, Jazzmynne Dixon from Wolverhampton City Credit Union and Dharminder Dhaliwal from Castle & Crystal in Dudley.

60 organisations gathered in Wolverhampton in May 2018 for the first Just Finance Black Country Summit.

Black Country people battling debt are to benefit from the appointment of a new worker who will coordinate efforts to help them become more financially resilient.

The Northumberland Community Bank is going from strength to strength!

A casual conversation in the hairdresser’s last week opened my eyes to the financial obstacle course faced by those renting in today’s private sector. 

How we view people with little money often needs to be challenged.

Liz Chadwick works for JFF in Newcastle and Northumberland. Here she describes the process of setting up a new credit union to serve a rural area.

How Just Finance Liverpool is helping to change the financial systems that so adversely affect those on the lowest and most insecure incomes.