Since the pandemic began, many families and communities across the UK have been thrown into financial chaos. Over a quarter of households have faced a reduction in income (Bank of England); issues of unemployment, furlough, Universal Credit, bills and arrears have impacted millions of families.

Through an Allchurches Trust grant, the Just Finance Foundation was able to expand its COVID Cash Course, an information and signposting workshop, empowering churches and community leaders to help their communities through a train-the-trainer model. This has now benefited over 30,000 individuals in need of signposting, resources, and accessible financial information.

Our colleagues in the Black Country have launched a new campaign to improve the financial health and resilience of employees across the Black Country, and encourage workforce savings through credit unions.

A major expansion of Just Finance Foundation’s COVID Cash Course is set to enable a thousand churches and community organisations to deliver information and resources that will help 10,000 people tackle financial issues that have arisen due to the Coronavirus pandemic, potentially preventing a downward spiral in their circumstances.

Gurj Shergill has recently joined the Transforming Communities Together (TCT) team as the new Overcoming Shocking Debt Worker. Gurj joins the fantastic Black Country branch of the Just Finance Foundation adding further to a team experienced and talented in addressing many aspects of financial capability.

Our partner in the Black Country recently met with Gabi from The Big Issue in the Midlands to chat about the impact of their staff attending a Cash Smart Credit Savvy, Training the Trainer course.

Keely Flowers is a local teacher. She is also project manager of Ablewell Advice (Image copyright - Ablewell Advice)

Black Country Chamber President Julie Cunningham alongside Revd Cassius Francis, from Just Finance Black Country, Jazzmynne Dixon from Wolverhampton City Credit Union and Dharminder Dhaliwal from Castle & Crystal in Dudley.

60 organisations gathered in Wolverhampton in May 2018 for the first Just Finance Black Country Summit.

Black Country people battling debt are to benefit from the appointment of a new worker who will coordinate efforts to help them become more financially resilient.