Financial wellbeing blog

Policy managers Sophia Spence-Cheng and Zoe Renton share their thoughts on a new £1.1 million grant programme, funded by the Money and Pensions Service, which tests scaling up projects that deliver financial education training to teachers and practitioners or offer direct delivery of financial education to children and young people in vulnerable circumstances. We know that financial...

Debt Insight Manager Paul Das shares what we know about the changes in how many people need debt advice, who might need advice in the future and how people are responding to changes in the cost of living. In 2021, MaPS adopted a new way of measuring the need for debt advice and we reported back on who needed debt advice using the results from our 2021 debt need survey, including an...

The Money and Pensions Service’s (MaPS) Chief Executive, Caroline Siarkiewicz, discusses why focusing on financial wellbeing is even more important in the wake of recent cost-of-living increases. Many people are worried about money right now, yet research shows that just talking about it can help to build a sense of overall wellbeing. Talk Money Week aims to encourage these money...

The Money and Pensions Service’s (MaPS) Propositions, Insights and External Engagement Director, Sarah Porretta, on the importance of financial education for children and resources available to schools and families during Talk Money Week. This week we’re working to turn talking about money from one of the UK’s least favourite topics into something that becomes as natural and familiar as...

Kani Kundu, Sector Support Executive and experienced Debt Adviser, talks about changes to Google’s debt services advertising policy and how this will help to protect consumers seeking information and support with their finances. The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) hugely welcome Google’s announcement of changes to its debt service advertising policy, which mean that only organisations...

Debt Insight Manager Paul Das shares what we know about people using Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) products, shares our concerns about what is currently offered by some providers and discusses how this product could fit within the regulated credit landscape. BNPL in the UK There are various estimates of the size of BNPL usage in the UK, but what all analysts and market commentators agree...

Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) Chief Executive Caroline Siarkiewicz highlights MaPS work to transform debt advice to help those in need. We know that debt advice works. It works for the people who receive it, and it works for society as a whole, benefitting the UK by up to £960 million a year. We also know that those delivering debt advice provide support that can transform...

Health, Social Care and Welfare Systems Strategy Lead Sarah Murphy shares three free ways you can help people with their money concerns in your uniquely placed role as a link worker, including the tools and guidance available to support you to make a difference to the people you assist. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, 11.5 million people had less than £100 of savings to fall...

On International Women’s Day (IWD), I wanted to share with you a blog I wrote for our people. It’s important for us all to be aware of the challenges women face around gender equality and share experiences so we can drive change and #BreakTheBias. Why are we marking International Women’s Day? It feels as though IWD has genuinely grown over the last...

Debt Insight Manager Paul Das shares what we know about how many people need debt advice currently, who they are and how we are using these insights. In September 2021, I explained how the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) had adapted the way we measure the need for debt advice. This is a crucial activity for MaPS as understanding people who need debt advice is essential in formulating...

Improving children and young people’s financial wellbeing: seven projects for teachers and vulnerable children

Need for debt advice and how households are reacting to changes in the cost of living

Why financial wellbeing initiatives are more important than ever for businesses and individuals

Talking money with children and young people during Talk Money Week and beyond

Changes to advertising policy for debt services to better support consumers

Buy Now Pay Later – the customers and MaPS’ Concerns

Driving forward change to support those in need

Three ways link workers can support people with their money worries

International Women’s Day: In conversation with Caroline Siarkiewicz

Who needs debt advice in 2022?

Managing money in uncertain times