A free financial wellbeing programme to help people improve their relationship with money has been expanded following a successful bid for funding.
The workshops help people learn more about budgeting, creating positive relationships with money, and how to manage income-related anxiety.
Research has shown there is a strong link between money worries and poor mental health, and the Multiply course gives participants the opportunity to learn more about the relationship between money and wellbeing and develop skills to effectively manage income and spending.
The course is delivered by Enable East, an independent NHS team that operates as part of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), and is part of the national Multiply programme.
More than 430 people have completed the programme since January 2023 and continued funding from Essex County Council, alongside additional funding from Southend City Council and Thurrock Council, will enable more to take part.
Some participants have never paid a bill before because of their living situation, and others have experienced homelessness.
Enable East is inviting charities, community and voluntary groups, and organisations to get in touch if they work with people who would benefit. They can email [email protected]
John Holmes, Multiply Project Manager at Enable East, said: “Supporting people from our local communities to address money worries is incredibly important right now.
“We help people to help themselves by exploring tools and small changes that can have an immediate positive impact to their daily lives.
“We also signpost people to services and partner organisations who can offer extra support, as we know money worries can have a detrimental impact on physical and mental health.”
Organisations whose clients have taken part in the course include refuges, the YMCA, homeless charities, housing organisations, community hubs, family centres, groups for parents of children with special educational needs and groups for people from the Nepalese community.
Participants must be aged 19 or over, live within the areas covered by Essex County Council, Southend City Council or Thurrock Council, and not have a grade C or above in maths GCSE or equivalent.
Workshops are delivered by trained facilitators and will include group sessions delivered in the community, and ongoing one-to-one support, but can be tailored to the needs of individual groups.
They are designed to create a safe and inclusive environment for people to share their experiences and learn from each other about topics such as budgeting, managing a household income and making positive purchasing decisions.
Participants are encouraged to find solutions and identify personal goals. Trainers can advise them on where to find extra support to reach their goals.
Some of the feedback received by people who have completed the programme include:
“The part I found most useful was the advice to keep track of actual spending and ways to save money to make use of what we already have. Thank you for such a positive course, it was really inclusive, friendly and supportive.”
“I have enjoyed the sessions and feel more positive. I am going to get more organised.”
Every participant will receive a £10 supermarket voucher and a one-to-one follow-up session when they have completed the course.
The programme is part of EPUT’s commitment to support our local communities to thrive by working with our partners to address the wider issues that affect people’s health and wellbeing.
Sara Kulikowski, Centre Manager for Signpost Greenstead in Colchester, said: “A large number of our beneficiaries have attended the financial wellbeing sessions run by Enable East and the feedback has been really positive.
“Everyone gets the opportunity to share experiences and receive support and encouragement from their peers, and the trainer provides some great tips and strategies to help them manage their money. It’s a very popular session.”
Emma Hughes, Chief Executive Officer of Chelmsford-based charity Sanctus, said: “It is fantastic to see our service users at Sanctus engaging with this vital and informative programme.
“Money generally brings about feelings of scarcity, lack and many negative thoughts for our service users.
“This is a vital step in supporting vulnerable people to improve and understand their finances in a proactive and safe environment.”
Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Life Long Learning and Employability, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many people benefitting from these workshops through EPUT and Enable East. Our finances have such a close link with our mental health and this course sets people up with the skills needed to budget and manage their money more effectively.
“The Essex Multiply programme offers flexible learning opportunities so that you can learn at a pace that suits you. If you’re anxious about your maths, Multiply can help, and I would urge Essex residents to take a look at the courses on offer and see what Multiply can offer them at https://www.essexopportunities.co.uk/multiply.”
