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.

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.

What would you do if we gave you £15 right now?

Treat yourself? Save it for a rainy day? Invest it? Give it to a loved one?

What would you have done with £15 when you were younger?

Would this be any different?

This isn’t momentum for the sake of momentum, it’s about changing lives and communities. It’s about making finance fair for all.

The Northumberland Community Bank is going from strength to strength!

Liz Chadwick works for JFF in Newcastle and Northumberland. Here she describes the process of setting up a new credit union to serve a rural area.