June 2014

Embedding Money Advice in Ethnic Minority Communities Workshop

Money Advice Scotland

June 2014

National umbrella organisation Raises standards in money advice and financial

inclusion Membership of over 200 organisations and

individuals including CABx Housing associations Local authorities Debt managers Insolvency Practitioners

Money Advice Scotland Training to Scottish National Standards Qualifications in Money Advice Consultancy line for money advisers Annual Conference and Exhibition Seminars Social Policy Input to policy making Audit Consultancy for external organisations

June 2014

Money Advice Scotland Recognised that membership was lacking input from Ethnic Minority

Organisations Acknowledged not much had changed since the Research which was

publishing on vulnerable consumers Wishes to reduce consumer detriment within Ethnic Minority

communities Want to encourage more participation both within Ethnic Minorities and

mainstream organisations Wants to see barriers as a thing of the past

June 2014

Money Advice Scotland Partnership organisation

Keen to deliver outcomes working with others Many different partnerships for different reasons

CAS and MAS for a partnership called MATRICS delivering training, and consultancy – more efficient and can deliver across all sectors and in a unified way

CEMVO and MAS – delivering the Financial Inclusion Programme – playing to our strengths Could see what we could do collaboratively and make it work Identify funders – Scottish Legal Aid Board and Big Lottery Fund

June 2014

CEMVO Scotland National Intermediary organisation and strategic partner of the Scottish

Government Set up its operations in Scotland in 2003 Database network of over 600 EM organisations throughout Scotland Strategic aim to build capacity and sustainability of the EMVS and its

communities Through our work, we gather continual intelligence about the needs and

issues affecting the EMVS

June 2014

Current Work Areas Race Equality Mainstreaming Programme EM young Leadership Graduate Internship Social Enterprise Support

- Just Enterprise

- Pre-capacity building & Young People Ethnic Minority Third Sector Network Black Leadership Network Climate Change Social Policy Civic & Democratic engagement Financial Inclusion Programme

June 2014

Why the need for the Financial Inclusion programme?

June2014

Why The Need?

Lack of accessible and appropriate mainstream services in health, employment, housing, financial advice, etc

Lack of capacity of ethnic minority organisations in developing sustainable and specialist services

MAS research – no evidence of progress CEMVO intelligence about high levels of poverty & financial stress

affecting EM communities Need therefore to:

- Improve capacity of mainstream money advice services to enable improved access for EM communities

- Support EM organisations to develop organisational & skills capacity to enable delivery of money advice services directly to EM communities

June2014

Financial Inclusion Programme Approach

Aims: Improve access to EM & mainstream money advice services Increase EM money advisers

Delivery: Provision of support & training to 5 mainstream money / welfare advice

agencies - e.g. Community engagement, promotion of services, policies & procedures, partnership working, networks, etc

Provision of support to 5 EM organisations – delivery of money advice, provision of training, building capacity & improving standards, support in developing services & accessing funding

June2014

Financial Inclusion Programme

Cemvo Scotland developed this new pilot programme in partnership with Money

Advice Scotland (MAS)This is currently being supported by Scottish

Legal Aid Board

Financial Inclusion Programme

CEMVO ScotlandFinancial Inclusion Officer – Helen McCabe

Money Advice Scotland Money Adviser – Brenda Gillies

Our Aim

To bring about a new way of working todeliver money advice to some of the

most marginalised and excluded communities in Scotland

What we plan to do

Raise awareness of money advice amongst ethnic minority communities.

Enhance, improve and increase theaccessibility of money advice related services

currently being provided by both ethnic minority third sector and mainstream advice

providers.

How do we aim to do this?

We have selected 5 mainstream organisations and 5 ethnic minority organisations within Glasgow area. We are working closely with them

offering a range of MAS and CEMVO support and training

CEMVO –Financial Inclusion Officer Helen McCabe

Will work closely with both EMOs and mainstream Organisations but will mainly focusing on providing the following for mainstream organisations:

Access to 5 days free one to one consultancy support in areas such as community engagement, race equality, cultural and partnership working training

Opportunity to build partnership working and links with the ethnic minority third sector

Develop an enhanced understanding of barriers to access and develop practical solutions to improving access

Increase your reach to new clients You will benefit from participation in the financial inclusion

network and attending learning events organised by us

What we need from both organisations

For this pilot to work: We need a full year commitment to

engage and work in partnership. Participate in the financial inclusion shared network learning event Advertise, market and promote the

programme through your processes and social media

Objectives

The objective of this is to make money advice more accessible for EM

communities but also increase and develop awareness and linked working for EM and Mainstream organisations.

Financial Inclusion Programme Outcome

The success of this programme is totally reliant on partnership working and

commitment to the programme from all organisations. We are providing

continued support and training throughout this pilot.

Legacy

Established long term partnershipswhich will result in better

relations and future development opportunities for other

joint projects

Cemvo Role – Financial Inclusion Programme

What are the money advice issues in ethnic minority (EM)

communities?

Main Issues Language Barriers Awareness & Understanding of the services available Geography/accessibility of services Cultural diversity ie Religious/gender/family/friends Trust & Confidence in mainstream/advice agencies Feeling of being Judged/Stereotyped ie mental

health,religious,gender,debt issues & language Isolation/Fear

Barriers to overcome

Language Mental Health /Disabilities Trust in services especially with regards to

confidentiality awareness Expectations managing both service and service user I.D Cultural-religious/gender Accessibility of services Stereotyping/Judgement

Solutions to overcome issues and barriers

Access to multiple language leaflets/information brochures/advertising services/promotion

Engage in local communities for both mainstream/EM organisations to work together

More Partnership working and building relations More preventative work Better support to communities…cont’d

….cont’d Solutions to overcome issues and barriers

Awareness campaigns for both EM communities, EM organisations and Mainstream organisations

More Sessional Staff with community/cultural language skills

Better signposting Promotion and marketing Holistic approach to funding for partnership

working

ISSUES & BARRIERS

Awareness/ Understanding of services

Language Better interpreting options available

Solutions

Geography/ Accessibility

Presentations/ Promotions / Marketing

Mental Health Disabilities Gender issues Religious Cultural

Creative in choice for Advice ie: EM out with local area

Awareness and understanding via training & presentations

Possible outcomes

Mainstream & EM organisations partnership working and building trust within community

Trust & Confidentiality

Sessional staff with community/cultural language skills identify language needs

Linked partnerships and more funding to support advice services

Mainstream and EM organisations accepting clients from other areas

Culturally competent staff who work with a non judgemental attitude with understanding

Mainstream and EM organisations having a stronger stand on confidentiality and regular engagement with the community

Progress of the Financial Inclusion Programme

The 10 organisations have been identified for this programme

Each of the 10 organisations have now signed the agreement to show their commitment to the programme

Identifying Consultancy & Training Needs

Community engagement Arranging a second meeting to look at current practises, policy and procedures Develop tailored solutions and suggestions to improve each organisations approach in their community engagement Other consultancy and training needs that would be required. Monitor the progress of any of the implemented changes and offer support on how this is working within the organisations, if there is any need to relook at it again

Thank you for your support

Money Advice Scotland Money Adviser – Brenda Gillies

Improving capacity & advice standards within Ethnic Minority

Organisations

What will the work involve?We will focus on the Ethnic Minority Organisations and deliver the following:To run 25 half/full day surgeries in money advice aiming to target 300 people.Opportunity for the organisations to shadow the money adviser in giving advice.1 day free introduction to Money Advice Training provided by MAS.Purchase and installation of advisernet software.Potential to develop money advice as a service and access future funding..

What areas are going to be covered in money advice?

Debt ManagementIncome maximisation (benefit entitlement etc)Evidence gathering, gaining clients trust, getting the clients whole situation, dealing with emergencies.Financial statements.Identify priority/non priority debts.Negotiating with creditors on client’s behalf.Options available to client to resolve their debt issues.Case recording of advice and plan of action for client.

What we plan to do?

MAS will work closely with offering a range of support and training to ethnic minority organisations.

Raise awareness of money advice amongst ethnic minority communities.

Enhance, improve and increase the accessibility of money advice related services currently being provided by both EMO third sector.

Support and development of money advice to Scottish National Standard.

Scottish National StandardsThis involves developing the standards of the organisations and the individual competences and skills of the money advisers.

Look at current practiceAdvice to improve practiceGeneral management standards.

Progress so far within EM organisations.

FIP agreements have been signed. Marketing flyer developed to promote the FIP to EM

Communities. Identify staff/volunteers to shadow the money adviser

and set up the money advice surgeries. MA training programme for staff/volunteers.

Thank you

Any questions?