Financial inclusion services

The aim of our Financial Inclusion Services is to support those people within our communities who are struggling financially. 

They can be excluded from accessing financial services such as savings accounts, loans, cashless transactions, and credit can be caused by any of the following:

• Unsustainable debt
• Insufficient budgetary skills
• Low income 

Unsustainable Debt

We can help those with debt problems by reviewing their financial situation, their type of debts, the creditors and the amounts owed, and their income and expenditure. We will look for opportunities to increase income and reduce expenditure. 

Once we have an accurate picture of the client’s financial situation, we will investigate all the debt options available which can include any of insolvency solutions, payment plans to creditors, and debt write-offs. We will contact creditors on our clients’ behalf. 

When we start working with a client, we first identify any urgent issues, which can include imminent visits by enforcement agents, eviction and court cases. We will work on the clients’ behalf to engage with these third parties to seek a favourable outcome.

Insufficient budgeting skills

In some cases, where an individual has enough income, the reason for financial exclusion is due to insufficient budgeting skills. Our debt advisors can provide assistance with budgeting. We will also look at ways of maximising income and reducing expenditure. 

For those not in work we can refer people to our Employment plus services which can assist with getting a client back into work.

Low income 

Where it is possible we will help clients with low income to reduce expenditure and increase income. Often many clients are not aware of what benefits they may be entitled to and if they are aware they often do not know how to claim the benefit. We are not benefit experts but will try and help clients to claim for benefit they are entitled to.

However, this may not solve the underlying problem and there are many thousands of individuals who have negative budgets. We will refer clients to other parts of the Salvation Army for support as well as other organisations such as local foodbanks  for support.