There’s a money side to most of life’s challenges, which is why the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) is proud to have developed the first free, national Money Guider learning networks to support practitioners from a range of sectors across the UK. Networks and communities lead Richard Denyer-Bewick shares how you can connect with others and build confidence to deliver effective money guidance as part of your service, and improve financial outcomes for your customers.
MaPS has launched a new way to take your help further. As part of the free Money Guiders programme, four dedicated networks have been set up, one in each of the devolved nations. The networks are here to support you in developing your skills and confidence, help share understanding with peers, and improve the financial wellbeing of people across the UK.
Who are the networks for?
Whatever your job role or sector, it’s likely that when your service users reach out for help, problems with money form part of their issue. By giving effective money guidance, you’ll help your customers further – they’ll be better placed to make the most of their money, prevent future difficulties and improve their overall financial wellbeing.
Money guidance is wide ranging: it could help people to budget and cover their bills, borrow better, or build up savings. It could also simply signpost customers to money help or debt advice they can trust. It’s all vital help, but sometimes you’ll need some support in turning knowledge into practice – that’s where the Money Guider Networks come in.
The networks are for you if you give any type of non-regulated money guidance as part of your support, directly or indirectly and whatever your sector, job or organisation’s mission. From not-for-profit and public service/benefit organisations through to housing associations and healthcare providers, you’re welcome in the Money Guiders community.
What are the benefits of joining a Money Guiders Network?
The idea is simple: we can all learn from each other and develop professionally together. As part of the Money Guiders community, you’ll have access to free resources, events and learning opportunities based around your needs. This is also your ideal space to try out new ideas and test your understanding of the Money Guidance Competency Framework, which sets out the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to deliver impartial guidance on money management and financial wellbeing in the non-regulated space.
Money Guiders is a growing network, connecting all types of practitioners. We’re working with four lead organisations in each of the nations who are specialists in bringing people together in safe, supportive, communities of practice.
Ready to join?
We are working with four expert delivery partners, who will be facilitating and hosting the Money Guider Networks in each of the nations across the UK. Register to hear about what events and sessions are coming up for your diaries. These offerings will be tailored for each nation, but you can sign up to all of them if your customers are UK wide.
England
Quaker Social Action’s ‘Made of Money’ team are creating the network in England and have a series of events and sessions lined up for you to join. Register on the Quaker Social Action website to get updates on all future England network activities.
You can also contact Emma Reney, the financial wellbeing network manager, with any England network enquiries: moneyguidernetwork@qsa.org.uk.
Northern Ireland
Reed In Partnership are developing the Money Guiders community in Northern Ireland – you can visit their page at www.moneyguidersni.co.uk to get on the list for events. The Money Guiders team in Northern Ireland then have a programme of events and sessions planned right through this year. Contact Eileen Bell, Money Guider Network project manager at moneyguidersni@reed.com.
Scotland
Our lead in Scotland is the Improvement Service, specialists in developing communities of practice and bringing people together in learning communities. Learn more about this network on their website and contact John Mitchell at moneyguidersnetwork@improvementservice.org.uk to join. Knowledge Hub (KHub) is also being utilised by the Improvement Service to bring money guidance practitioners together in an online community for Scotland – you can join on their website.
Wales
Hafal are our lead network partner in Wales – specialists in money and mental health, Hafal will curating a programme of online events and discussion spaces for Welsh money guidance practitioners, as well as supporting the continuation of the three existing Financial Capability Forums in North, West, and Mid and South Wales.
Contact Adrian Nicholson at moneyguiderswales@hafal.org or visit www.hafal.org/moneyguiderswales for more information on events in Wales.
Working together to improve financial wellbeing across the UK
We at MaPS want to support customers and service users across the UK to achieve good financial wellbeing so that they can make the most of their money and pensions throughout life. The Money Guider Networks and broader learning programme support the goals of the UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing, by enabling many thousands of practitioners and organisations to contribute to the financial wellbeing of their customers. Find out more at maps.org.uk/money-guiders.
Keep in touch with events and updates across the UK by following MaPS on LinkedIn and Twitter. Join the conversation at #MoneyGuiders.