Spotlight on FIPs

Warwickshire’s Financial Inclusion Partnership launched the Frontline Workers Toolkit this year which helps staff to spot and guide customers who may be in financial difficulty. This is the fifth in a series of articles which explores the messages of the toolkit. This month’s themes are ‘domestic violence’ and ‘community’.

The Financial Inclusion Partnership acknowledges that families in crisis may have complex issues that go way beyond money woes. With this in mind the group works closely with Warwickshire’s newly expanded Family Intervention Project. Sharing an acronym, they also have a vision in common: to turn the lives around of struggling families to the benefit of themselves and the whole community.

The Family Intervention project provides intensive support to highly problematic families across Warwickshire with multiple social, economic, health and behaviour issues.  Common problems include domestic violence, child abuse worries, escalating debt, children falling out of education and anti-social behaviour. Previously the families may have had up 20 different organisations (including social services, the Police and Probation) involved with them and have often rejected their support. Engaging together, those agencies now work with the families and a FIP key worker gives intensive support ensuring a ‘whole family approach’ is adopted. The Family Intervention model is big news across the UK: it’s endorsed by the Department for Education and Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles.

Working with frontline Financial Inclusion Partners is important to the project’s success. Colleagues at Warwickshire Direct outlets, housing departments, revenue and benefits offices and advice service settings and such are in a good position to spot troubled families and make a referral. And they play an important role in the families’ support package.

Mark Ryder, Chair of the Financial Inclusion Partnership said, ”Christmas can be a testing time when the financial burdens and troubles that beset a family might intensify. The Partnership and Family Intervention Project will be working as hard as ever this festive season to engage with and protect Warwickshire’s communities.”

For more information on the work of the Financial Inclusion Partnership and the Family Intervention Project contact louiserichards@warwickshire.gov.uk

Free school meals

Warwickshire is working hard to raise the attainment of pupils who receive Free School Meals.  County data shows that, generally speaking, those children and young people who qualify for a FSM do not perform as well at school.  This is true at all the points at which we measure children’s academic attainment, from the youngest to the oldest young people. 

The government allocates extra funding to schools, based on the number of FSM pupils in the school.  This is currently £430 per pupil and the figure is due to rise next year. The money is to help redress this inequality of outcome.

The Learning Improvement Team are managing a project to narrow the attainment gap for these children, focusing on what is happening in schools and classrooms.

The Financial Inclusion Partnership  is also focusing on the recent survey from the Warwickshire Observatory, highlighting 2,052 families across Warwickshire that are potentially eligible to claim FSM, but are not.  Weighed against the 8,013 pupils who are currently receiving a FSM, there is a massive loss of help for families and funding for schools – the latter worth over £8.8 million pounds over three years.

The partnership is going to focus on encouraging all families to claim if they are eligible and also to address the barriers and challenges that may discourage such claims. It is also focusing on sharing best practice in classroom work and school approaches, because surprisingly some schools do exceptionally well for their FSM pupils.  It would like people to share what they do and spread the effective ways of working.  Watch this space for more details of this project over the next few months. Meanwhile, if you have any suggestions or good ideas please contact debbiehibberd@warwickshire.gov.uk

Frontline Workers Toolkit launches

Hundreds of frontline workers in Warwickshire have benefitted from a series of events to launch a new Frontline Workers Toolkit

The final event takes place tomorrow in Stratford following a series of sessions throughout the county to launch the toolkit to frontline workers.

The events have been organised by the Financial Inclusion Partnership in recognition of the work of hundreds of frontline workers, whether from the public, private or voluntary sector, who are in regular contact with children and families who may benefit from financial advice.

The free events covered all aspects of addressing financial inclusion: a key cause of poverty and anxiety, through a series of workshops and also launched the new Frontline Workers Toolkit.

Places booking fast for financial toolkit launch events

More than 30 places were booked within hours of announcing a series of free events in Warwickshire for public, private or voluntary sector workers who are in regular contact with children and families who may benefit from financial advice.

Organised by the the Financial Inclusion Partnership the free events will cover all aspects of addressing financial inclusion: a key cause of poverty and anxiety, through a series of workshops and will also launch the new Frontline Workers Toolkit.

The day will provide delegates with the skills and knowledge to signpost customers to the most appropriate services to support their needs, while also providing an excellent networking event.

Five different events are being held in each of Warwickshire’s districts and boroughs, all of which are being offered on a first come, first served basis, so please do not delay in responding to this invitation.

Below are the details of the different events, RSVP to the relevant contact:

North Warwickshire 17th June (9.30am – 3.30pm) Atherstone, Memorial Hall Sally Roberts
SallyRoberts@NorthWarks.gov.uk

Nuneaton & Bedworth 23rd June (9.30am – 3.30pm) Newtown Centre Jo Robinson
jo.robinson@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk

Rugby 29th June (9.30am – 3.30pm) Benn Hall, Rugby Dave Wortley
PA.Mailbox@rugby.gov.uk

Warwick 30th June (9.30am – 3.30pm) Town Hall, Leamington Spa  Andrea Wyatt
Andrea.Wyatt@warwickdc.gov.uk

Stratford 8th July (9.30am – 3.30pm) Elizabeth House Tina Brain
Tina.Brain@stratford-dc.gov.uk

The programme for each of the days is as follows:

9.30 – Arrival and Registration – Coffee / Tea
10.00 – Welcome and Introductions
10.10 – Setting the Scene –
An overview of the day, outlining the current customer service delivery model and how working in partnership can address the issues around access to information and how financial inclusion can address child poverty. This is an opportunity to develop service delivery and meet the needs and expectations of our customers.
10.35 – Frontline Workers Toolkit and Referral Protocol
Introducing the ‘NEW’ Frontline Workers toolkit – what it is and how to use it!
11.15 – 11.30 – Break
11.30 – Citizens Advice Bureau – Dave Grove
 Financial Capability, Debt Advice and the CAB
11.55 – Money Advice Service – Sarah Long
 Who the Money Advice Service are and how we can help you
12.20 – Warwickshire Welfare Rights Advice Service – Mark Stanyer
 Families and Benefit. What WWRAS does and how we can help you
12.45 – 1.30 – Lunch
1.30 – Coventry & Warwickshire Cooperative Development Agency – Mandy Bygrave
 Access to affordable finance, budgeting and money management
2.00 – Severn Trent Water – Laura Bennett
 Which water scheme is right for you?
2.20 – Energy Saving Trust – Lyn Melling
 Energy efficiency advice and help with affordable warmth
2.45 – Child Protection – Anna Standing (FIS)
 Early intervention, family and parenting support and child protection
3.10 – Questions and Answers Panel
3.30 – Closing Remarks

Frontline Workers Toolkit launch events

Are you someone who works on a regular basis with members of the community who may be struggling with their finances?

The Financial Inclusion Partnership recognises that whether from the public, private or voluntary sector many workers on the frontline are in regular contact with children and families who may benefit from financial advice.

The free event will cover all aspects of addressing financial inclusion: a key cause of poverty and anxiety, through a series of workshops and will also launch the new Frontline Workers Toolkit.

The day will provide delegates with the skills and knowledge to signpost customers to the most appropriate services to support their needs, while also providing an excellent networking event.

Five different events are being held in each of Warwickshire’s districts and boroughs, all of which are being offered on a first come, first served basis, so please do not delay in responding to this invitation.

Below are the details of the different events, RSVP to the relevant contact:

North Warwickshire 17th June (9.30am – 3.30pm) Atherstone, Memorial Hall Sally Roberts
SallyRoberts@NorthWarks.gov.uk

Nuneaton & Bedworth 23rd June (9.30am – 3.30pm) Newtown Centre Jo Robinson
jo.robinson@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk

Rugby 29th June (9.30am – 3.30pm) Benn Hall, Rugby Dave Wortley
PA.Mailbox@rugby.gov.uk

Warwick 30th June (9.30am – 3.30pm) Town Hall, Leamington Spa  Andrea Wyatt
Andrea.Wyatt@warwickdc.gov.uk

Stratford 8th July (9.30am – 3.30pm) Elizabeth House Tina Brain
Tina.Brain@stratford-dc.gov.uk

The programme for each of the days is as follows:

9.30 – Arrival and Registration – Coffee / Tea
10.00 – Welcome and Introductions
10.10 – Setting the Scene –
An overview of the day, outlining the current customer service delivery model and how working in partnership can address the issues around access to information and how financial inclusion can address child poverty. This is an opportunity to develop service delivery and meet the needs and expectations of our customers.
10.35 – Frontline Workers Toolkit and Referral Protocol
Introducing the ‘NEW’ Frontline Workers toolkit – what it is and how to use it!
11.15 – 11.30 – Break
11.30 – Citizens Advice Bureau – Dave Grove
 Financial Capability, Debt Advice and the CAB
11.55 – Money Advice Service – Sarah Long
 Who the Money Advice Service are and how we can help you
12.20 – Warwickshire Welfare Rights Advice Service – Mark Stanyer
 Families and Benefit. What WWRAS does and how we can help you
12.45 – 1.30 – Lunch
1.30 – Coventry & Warwickshire Cooperative Development Agency – Mandy Bygrave
 Access to affordable finance, budgeting and money management
2.00 – Severn Trent Water – Laura Bennett
 Which water scheme is right for you?
2.20 – Energy Saving Trust – Lyn Melling
 Energy efficiency advice and help with affordable warmth
2.45 – Child Protection – Anna Standing (FIS)
 Early intervention, family and parenting support and child protection
3.10 – Questions and Answers Panel
3.30 – Closing Remarks