WEST LOTHIAN FINANCIAL INCLUSION NETWORK SCIO 

This group will use the funding to run a scheme providing Christmas boxes filled with winter essentials to ensure no child is without a gift on Christmas morning and each has adequate clothing for ....more

This group will use the funding to run a scheme providing Christmas boxes filled with winter essentials to ensure no child is without a gift on Christmas morning and each has adequate clothing for the cold weather.

To provide 600 Meal bags: each meal sufficient for a family of four and 100 Breakfast bundles: sufficient for a family of four for one week, supporting children and families across West Lothian

This group will purchase devices which will be organised through a lending library system to allow more members of the community to participate in online classes and advice sessions.

NET, Comic Relief and Children in Need will use this funding to provide: increased support to vulnerable people and hidden groups, thus reducing the burden on public services; reach local grassroots ....more

NET, Comic Relief and Children in Need will use this funding to provide: increased support to vulnerable people and hidden groups, thus reducing the burden on public services; reach local grassroots and small organisations who can provide an on-the-ground community response to the crisis; and, support local charitable organisations to mobilise volunteers to enable better targeted support in communities through empowered local groups.

To offer a safe environment for lone, elderly people within the Breich valley area of West Lothian

This group will use the funds to delivery food and other essential items to families in the Longridge and Addiewell areas of West Lothian.

Detailed description not provided.

Due to local demand via our community volunteer advisers we are seeking funding to pilot a new service in the West Lothian Area that will provide those in the community access to individual money ....more

Due to local demand via our community volunteer advisers we are seeking funding to pilot a new service in the West Lothian Area that will provide those in the community access to individual money budgeting related assistance and support. Due to the Semi-rural nature and poor transport links some of the area's residents require to travel to the nearest large town, up to 15 miles from some villages, to access national or local advice services i.e. CAB. Providing they can get an appointment and are able to coordinate the public transport links and appointment times. This also has a financial cost which can often be unaffordable for the resident. Our communities of interest experience higher levels of unemployment, fuel and food poverty and high levels of debt. Assistance is often required to complete DWP forms , housing forms but access to internet is sporadic in the rural areas of West Lothain, both in digital coverage and lack of affordability for residents. Recent changes in the welfare and benefit system has had a huge impact in the areas , the areas are slipping down the index of multiple deprivation, mainly due to the welfare and benefit changes , the roll out of Universal credit and the changing method of PIP assessments and awards. Compounding the lack of capacity in handling personal finances and ability to safeguard income. We would deliver one to one session, group sessions and tapping in to specialisms of our local partners, ensuring our participants accessed the correct level of assistance.Form filling assistance would also be available via our trained volunteer advisors. We would work with local community management boards to access local community centres or halls within the communities to make the service accessible to those in the more rural communities. We will be asking participants via surveys and evaluations how we can mould the service to their needs. These services will be available West Lothain Wide in communities of need.

A community based call centre in Whitburn, West Lothian We are seeking funding for office space in West Lothian, part time staffing costs and volunteer expenses, to enable us to pilot a ....more

A community based call centre in Whitburn, West Lothian We are seeking funding for office space in West Lothian, part time staffing costs and volunteer expenses, to enable us to pilot a community-based call centre to provide support for local residents particularly in the rural and semi-rural areas of West Lothian who are struggling with the roll out of Universal credits. This call centre would be staffed by volunteers, who would be trained to deliver support and advice in dealing with Universal credit and other welfare reforms changes over the phone. The part-time member of staff would train and supervise any telephonic services. It is envisaged that we will provide a telephone service Monday to Friday, 10 am until 3pm, these times will be constantly monitored to ensure the best fit for the need and adapted as required. There will be 4 lines available via the call centre package. Volunteers would be given scheduled slots to provide the phone service depending on their availability. Continual evaluation of this pilot service will be required as the roll out of universal credits continues throughout this area. The call centre would have two purposes: 1. To provide information about Universal credit to the West Lothian Area. This could be two fold, general information i.e. time scales for roll out or perhaps a more personal request for information regarding their forthcoming change to universal credit and how to prepare for it. Possibly by signposting to a budgeting workshop or a "better off "or "what if "calculation which the volunteer could carry out. Also, to explain the pitfalls of agreeing to Universal credit before a mandatory change. 2. Support and assistance when the transition to Universal credit is being made. Ensuring that they minimise the time without benefit. There may be additional help required to ease this journey. To ensure they have an option to discuss issues raised when applying for universal credit and the impact there might be if they have to take a crisis loan, which has to be paid back and understanding the rate of payback applicable. Increase in enquiries due to the changing benefit system Through volunteer feedback and evaluation of our current service, it has been highlighted that there is a large amount of uncertainty surrounding the changing face of welfare benefits. The roll out of Universal credits locally making West Lothian a full-service area for Universal credits, residents are unsure as how to proceed, this has almost doubled the number of enquiries we have had relating to universal credits. This would be a support line dealing with issues around the introduction of Universal credits to residents. We are now receiving requests from health professionals; local key workers and it is difficult for us to continue to handle these enquiries as we are currently lacking in resources to address the concerns. Another issue highlighted was that West Lothian due to its geography is a fragmented county, is populated by a large number of mining communities which are quite isolated from each other and the larger 4 towns. These small villages do not readily interact with each other. Local transport links are poor, there are advice services available in Bathgate and Livingston. However, to access these services is not always possible due to the limited new bus routes, limited access, new timetables and in certain situations, residents experiencing this change in benefits cannot afford the bus fare. This has a greater impact to those with disabilities as the changing bus routes means they must cover a greater distance on foot. Additionally there is the perceived embarrassment of being seen accessing advice , but the telephone service allows the residents the option of gaining support and information almost anonymously. Presently within West Lothian there is no comparable service offered and as such local residents are getting into financial and emotional difficulties dealing with these changes. Universal credit is being rolled out in West Lothian and as a full-service area, any change in domestic or personal situations will mean that the residents will be changed on to Universal credit and the issues this change will bring. For instance, this change will bring a minimum of a five-week period of no income from that benefit. It will mean a change from fortnightly to monthly benefits and due to the nature of universal credit, they may lose some benefit entitlement from the old system to the new system. E.G. ESA being reassessed. Debt is easily accumulated during this period as housing benefit and council tax reduction ceases during this assessment period. For Example : Parents of twins, recently turned to their health visitor, who in turn referred them to us at one of our community based advice sessions. Because of an extended transition to Universal credits, they had used up the food bank option of three vouchers and now had no food and were unable to heat the family home as they had no income, they were facing debt as housing benefit and council tax reduction was not be paid during this transition time. They needed a supportive ear to listen and suggest any possible ways to mitigate their situation. Our volunteer was able to suggest a number of differing ways to minimise their dilemma, checking to see if they could gain an advance on forthcoming payment, assisting in finding out if there is a particular reason for the holdup of the payment. This family through support and intervention now have additional food and nappies for the twins. Negotiating with their energy supplier to ensure they had a continue supply of fuel, the energy supplier was not aware they were a vulnerable family. Not everyone in West Lothian has access to this type of service. We are very limited in the number of areas we can provide this community service, but this type of support could be more readily available to the wider community from a call centre, providing a listening ear, signposting and direction to appropriate agencies, making it easier to follow up, ensuring the best level of service and best practice is followed. Often it is the opportunity to talk to someone who is not an official or representative of a government agency. It is being able to ask the silly question, to gain understanding of the new situation, it is being able to feel that you are not being judged, to having someone who will listen not judgementally, but be informed enough to guide you to the appropriate place or person. Having the option to call from home and not be embarrassed by accessing advice at a known centre. For example, a new mum with a 5 week old baby girl, asked what she could do as DWP had closed her claim. She was visibly distressed, limited money, homeless and unsure what to do. Was told by DWP to claim Universal credit to supplement her maternity allowance which she did, received a text from DWP to say look at your account. Her message from the DWP, "as you failed to attend your interview, your claim has now been closed" This was two weeks after making her initial Claim. By chatting to this young mum, we were able to explain the system to her, the reasons for the closure and how she could challenge this decision. In the young mum's defence, she had not received an invitation to an interview, so we could challenge the decision of the DWP. Her doctor suggested she speak to us, we have been able to secure universal credit for her. Her homelessness issue was also addressed and with her health visitor and doctors support she has gained sufficient points to be allocated a council house. Beneficiaries from this service would be those with changing personal circumstances, those invited to have their current benefits reassessed or those who have changing health needs, everyone in the community who needs a listening ear and signposting when universal credit comes to call. During this initial transition period, but ultimately at the point of full migration to this new system. There needs to be help, knowledge and emotional support with this forced change, the fear people feel when tackling something new. The lack of digital inclusion for some will also become a reality when this change happens, but with a non-judgmental voice at the end of a phone, this journey can be manged and assisted. Our volunteers will be given training in active listening, benefit knowledge to guide our residents forward and support to deliver this service. The volunteers will gain confidence in working with other volunteers, feel a belonging to the community, ownership of the ability to assist. Build peer support from other volunteers at offered training opportunities and monthly volunteer meetings. Although the call centre would be based in West Lothian and initially we will assist West Lothian residents, this will not be at the exclusion of anyone else, from outside West Lothian.

We would deliver cooking in conjunction with different activities, number of young families have expressed an interest in learning to cook , but felt that it was too expensive. We will show these ....more

We would deliver cooking in conjunction with different activities, number of young families have expressed an interest in learning to cook , but felt that it was too expensive. We will show these parents and children that with budgeting skills , blind tasting and cooking together that they can maximise their income . Often cooking classes only concentrate on the parents this is different as we would encourage them to cook together. We will deliver the cooking in conjunction with activities - welfare and benefit checks, Financial literacy budgeting workshops.The children would be engaged during the whole process from cooking to eating.Activities -catch the bug , how many sugars, crafting opportunities e.g making their aprons .Improve nutritional choices via blind tasting .At the end of each session everyone will leave with a recipe card and the confidence to replicate the meal at home, all delivered in a fun and interactive way. Often it is the children who dictate the household meals - By engaging the children and teaching them the cooking skills they will be the driving force in changing the weekly shop. By working in local communities it is easier to market this opportunity and have parents and children participate, often only the parents are engaged, by engaging with both it gives them the opportunity to explore this option together. By making the whole process fun, entertaining and interactive , by building competency and resilience to make choices ,build on information and signposting options if required.

Many people living in rural parts of West Lothian struggle to manage their limited household budgets, are worried about how changes to the benefits system will affect them and don't know who to turn ....more

Many people living in rural parts of West Lothian struggle to manage their limited household budgets, are worried about how changes to the benefits system will affect them and don't know who to turn to for help. West Lothian Financial Inclusion Network runs interactive workshops in local communities and makes learning about financial issues fun, using magic as a way of engaging people and helping them to learn and use new money management skills. The workshops support/coach people to create personal budgets, monitor their monthly spending, set savings goals and to make sense of different financial products and debt.