Right Information, Right Time
What has the Project done to date?
At the beginning of the Project, there was a significant overlap in work with the Anchor Early Action Project. The Project Officers, employed through the Anchor Project, tested different approaches to ensuring that those eligible for benefits were applying for them. Working with Sound Primary School and the wider community, the need for trusting relationships and conversations were confirmed as crucial. This trust was vital in encouraging people to apply for benefits, including Free School Meals.
Money Worries Workshops
Shetland Citizens Advice Bureau, the NHS Shetland Health Improvement Team and the Anchor Team joined together to deliver Money Worries Workshops. These workshops were created for staff and volunteers providing front-line support to the community. The main aim is to provide individuals with the knowledge and confidence to start discussing money worries with the people they were supporting.
The workshops were run online and began by looking at the links between poverty and health inequalities. Discussions also covered the impact of stigma as a barrier, both to those seeking support and services raising an issue. Attendees were then given details of the support that the Citizens Advice Bureau offer, and this was then discussed in the context of a real life case study. The Anchor team also provided examples of how they have engaged families, opening up discussion on how people can raise the issue of money worries with families they are working with.
Feedback received both anecdotally at the end of the workshop and in the post session questionnaires, has been positive. Use of pre and post session questionnaires will allow for continued monitoring of the impact of the workshops. Offering the workshop to target groups allows the session to be tailored as required, and provides an opportunity for attendees to discuss any issues within their own services.
The questionnaires could be updated to gather additional data – for example, it has been observed that despite finding the sessions useful, respondents had not made a referral into CAB. It would be useful to know if these people had instead signposted to the service or if they had taken any other actions as a result of attending the workshop, such as discussing the resources with a colleague.
These workshops are now business as usual.
Feedback on the workshops
“The course was very helpful and I’ve recommended families to get in touch with support for DLA/PIP claims. Thank you” anonymous – feedback from post-session questionnaire
“Session was very open and friendly, allowing for adequate opportunities for discussion. Thank you!” anonymous – feedback from post-session questionnaire
“I was previously aware of CAB and had signposted to them in the past. After having attended the Money Worries session I have a better understanding of the broad range of things that CAB can help with. I also feel more inclined to request permission to refer somebody to CAB now rather than just signposting as this could increase the likelihood they go on to receive the support they need.” Health Improvement Practitioner