Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Cash boost benefits hundreds of families
A service helping families in Monklands with their finances has ensured hundreds of them have been better off by almost £1000 during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Money Talk Team service is funded by the Scottish Government and was launched in November 2018.
In North Lanarkshire it helps families maximise their income, advising them on how to save cash by reducing bills and ensure they are claiming all of the benefits and grants they’re entitled to.
Since the start of the pandemic in March through to the end of November, the service supported 1313 households in the local authority area and helped 730 of them bring missing money home and be better off by £948, on average.
And since its launch just over two years ago it has gone on to support almost 27,000 clients, creating financial gains of almost £24 million in total.
The Money Talk Team is a free, confidential and personalised service delivered by the Citizens Advice Network in Scotland.
It is offering families financial advice and support during these tough times. One call to the free helpline is all it takes for people to check they are getting what they are entitled to and how they can reduce household bills.
Launching the campaign to raise awareness of the Money Talk Team, Aileen Campbell, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government, said: “We know that there are many families across Scotland who are facing and have experienced unexpected financial difficulties as a result of Covid-19.
“The Money Talk Team has already provided so much support to households across the country and we know there’s more who can benefit from it to make their money go further; whether it’s finding out about any benefits or grants you might be eligible for or ways in which you might make savings on your household bills.
“We want families in Scotland to know that they are not in this alone and that the Money Talk Team can help them determine what they are entitled to in these unprecedented times.”
Across Scotland a total of 6414 households have been supported by the Money Talk Team since last March – gaining an average of £1500 per household.
More information around the financial support available to families can be found at Parent Club, an online information resource and support hub offering tips and information to help support parents and carers, and assist them in supporting their children.
To find out more about the Money Talk Team and how they can help you in these tough times, visit parentclub.scot/ articles/who-are-money-talkteam or call 0800 085 7145 for a free and confidential chat.
The service can also be accessed through the free helpline number or by web chat at https://moneytalkteam.org. uk