Improving Access and Delivery of Financial Wellbeing Support in Torbay

Nearly a quarter of working age adults with children and around a third of children are living in poverty in the UK. Children exposed to poverty have an increased risk of poor physical and mental health outcomes as well as poorer educational outcomes and lower earnings. Whilst national policies focused on employment, benefits and taxation are traditionally seen as the avenue for alleviating poverty, there is increased recognition of the important role that front-line practitioners could play in alleviating poverty through the delivery of financial wellbeing support (FWbS).

We know that front-line practitioners are delivering FWbS to families even though this often extends beyond the remit of their role. FWbS can include the distribution of goods (i.e., food, toys, white goods), conducting benefits checks for families, supporting families with grant or benefits applications or supporting families to communicate with government departments or utility companies regarding their bills. However, front- practitioners delivering this support receive limited training and often lack confidence to deliver FWbS.

Navigating the welfare and financial support landscape is also complex, and families report being unsure about what they are entitled to claim. A recent report from Policy in Practice (2024) stated that £23 billion of income-related benefits and social tariffs are unclaimed each year and poverty-related health issues are rising. In addition, families with children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) highlighted heightened financial challenges and additional barriers to accessing entitlement support.

Parents also report poor communication and connectivity of services and experiences of stigma and shame in accessing support. Parents call for a more holistic and sensitive approach to support which is focused on making the process easier and more accessible. Application of the best available evidence is needed to ensure that families are accessing the benefits and support required to bring about real change in their living circumstances.

Research findings indicate the need for:

1) Improved confidence and capabilities of front-line practitioners navigating the welfare and financial support landscape on behalf of/to support families, and ways of sharing best practice in that regard.

2) Reduced fear of stigma and shame, and improved access to local, tailored financial wellbeing support for parents and carers.

What is this project aiming to do?

1) Co-design a FWbS training manual for front-line practitioners

Through a series of workshops, we will work together with members of the Torbay community to understand the training needs of front-line practitioners delivering FWbS to families. We will co-design a training manual aimed at increasing front-line practitioners’ confidence to deliver FWbS (i.e., creating a safe environment, using appropriate language, understanding what is within their role and what requires specialist support). The training manual will be delivered to front-line practitioners, translated into practice and then evaluated.

2) Co-design FWbS Torbay systems navigation tool

We will gather organisations working in the FWbS space in Torbay to understand what is currently on offer to families with the aim of producing a map of the system level picture (i.e., access, remit, expertise). The map with be shared with front-line practitioners and families to improve access to FWbS in the area.

What does the project hope to achieve?

We will co-design with families and front-line practitioners in Torbay a succinct training manual and resources to enhance the delivery of FWbS, and access to FWbS to families in Torbay.

Partners

• University of Exeter
• Action for Children
• The Windmill Centre
• Torbay Advice Network