A money awareness pack for cancer carers and budgeting advice for people with learning disabilities are among the 12 projects announced as winners of the newly created Financial Services Authority's (FSA) £200,000 Innovation Fund.
Omagh Independent Advice Services benefit from FSA's Innovation Fund awards announced in December 2005. The 12 not for profit and community projects were chosen from more than 350 applications which proposed new and innovative ways to tackle financial capability issues that could help people take control of their money.
Vernon Everitt, FSA's Retail Themes Director, said:
Funding these innovative ideas will enable organisations at the coalface to deal with issues like financial awareness and exclusion. The projects will help identify good practice which can then be shared to the benefit of more people across the UK.
"The submissions we received were excellent and choosing the final 12 was tough. We would like to thank all applicants for the quality of their suggestions."
Conor Mc Gale, Manager of OIAS stated:
We are delighted that OIAS has been chosen as one of the successful 12 groups to develop this project. We will develop a Money Awareness Pack to be used by Cancer Sufferers, their families and their carers. The primary aim of this project is to make cancer sufferers better aware of their financial circumstances and how it can be improved. We look forward to closely working with local cancer support groups in the Omagh area, along with other support services such as GP’s, Social Services and other Community & Voluntary Organisations
The award winning projects target a diverse range. They will help to build financial confidence by providing people with access to valuable information and advice on managing their money.
The Innovation Fund is part of the FSA's National Financial Capability Strategy.
The 12 winners are:
- British Refugee Council (UK wide) – financial capability courses aimed at women with families and the unemployed.
- East SurreyDomestic Violence Forum – helping clients with financial capability issues and therefore regain their independence.
- Lincolnshire Action Group - financial awareness support service for prisoners and ex-offenders.
- Loans & Savings Abertawe (LASA) Credit Union, Swansea – introducing money issues to children and parents in schools through plays, including puppet characters, and a money week.
- London & Quadrant Housing – providing social housing clients with financial capability advice leading to a personalised action plan.
- Mencap/Citizens Advice (UK wide)– promoting understanding of the financial system to those with learning disabilities including the development of suitable training materials.
- North WarwickshireCitizens Advice Bureau - Internet based financial capability learning tool for 6form students and youth groups including interactive sessions.
- Omagh Independent Advice Services- self help pack to support the families of those suffering from cancer.
- Quaker Social Action, East London– working with low income families and children to understand spending pressures and priorities.
- St Christopher's Hospice, South London– financial capability sessions aimed at the carers and families of those in the Hospice. Focus on younger families.
- Sacar, Bradford – working with people with autism and asperger syndrome. Group and individual sessions on financial capability including video and role play sessions.
