Westcliff BAME

Aim

We will support over 100 Orthodox Jewish families who are financially struggling which is causing stress, anxiety, and depression.

Inflation has reached a 30-year high and we are seeing increased poverty across the country, especially in and around disadvantaged communities.

Many local Orthodox Jewish families, who were already suffering from post-COVID-19 poverty, are now additionally facing the impact of high inflation, with the increased cost of living squeezing household incomes. Many people in our community are feeling overwhelmed by money worries, which is causing stress, anxiety, and depression. 

Our project will support those in our community struggling with financial concerns by providing a Financial Skills for Life programme.  This 6-week programme, delivered in a group format, will help participants understand their financial picture, establish spending priorities, create long-term financial goals and build a financial plan with professional guidance. We will give people the knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their money effectively. Emotional skills will also be an important element of this, encouraging people to talk about their concerns, offering professional support in small groups, and providing practical advice for managing stress. We will offer further 1 to 1 coaching for those who would benefit from this. 

Our aim for this coaching service is to reduce the impact of poverty in the short term, and to develop the longer-term skills of financial management, offering a route out of poverty beyond the immediate emergency, ensuring the most vulnerable are able to cope during periods of economic instability, alleviating the strain on welfare systems, food banks and poverty relief organisations.
Financial skills can be directly correlated to improved health, well-being, employment and life choices, reducing stress and improving relationships.

This project builds on our position as a trusted provider of money advice. In addition, our programme will signpost participants onto Paperweight for benefits advice and support where appropriate.

This project successfully funded on 8th December 2022