Managing money better project evaluation

1. Description of the programme
2. The study
3. What are the outcomes?
4. Key findings
5. Points to consider

Description of the programme

The FirstStop project is one of fifteen Managing Money Better projects funded by Comic Relief in a £2.5m programme which aims to support older people (65+) to build their knowledge and skills to manage their money more effectively; ensure access to good, independent financial advice; guard against financial scams and abuse and cope better with cold homes.

The project is part of the wider housing and care options support service offered by FirstStop and aims to reach more vulnerable older people, particularly by providing money advice as a key element of housing and care options advice and support. The service is delivered through a combination of the FirstStop website, national telephone advice line, peer to peer advice and support and a network of local partner organisations providing face to face information, advice and support to older people, with four main intended outcomes:

• Improvement in money management skills of vulnerable older people.
• Increase in income of vulnerable older people.
• More energy efficient homes occupied by older people and reduction in fuel poverty.
• Increase income through awareness and take up of grants and benefits and managing money.

Four local partners in Croydon, Hull, the Black Country and Lincolnshire each focus on targeting a specific client group: BME elders; people with long term conditions including older people with disabilities and those experiencing mental health problems; people living in the most unfit accommodation and those self-funding their care. No figures were provided on number of participants.

The Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research at the University of Cambridge has been undertaking an independent evaluation of the FirstStop service since November 2009. Previous reports from the evaluation can be found at: http://www.cchpr.landecon.cam.ac.uk/Projects/Start-Year/2010/FirstStop2010.

The study

The evaluation methodology was largely qualitative and included interviews with: the national management/delivery team; the four local partner caseworkers and managers and 28 clients across the four local partners. Project administrative data and monitoring information was also analysed, including a client self-assessment survey completed when their case was closed. The client interviews were qualitative but repeated questions asked in the self-assessment survey to provide a level of validation.

What are the outcomes?

• Financial wellbeing: The evaluation assessed the extent to which the project had helped older people to increase their income by providing benefits advice and knowledge about grants to give them a better understanding of the potential sources of additional income.
• Financial capability (Connection):The evaluation assessed the extent to which the project had helped older people to experience less fuel poverty by providing clients with advice on energy efficiency to raise their awareness of the potential help available.
• Financial capability (Ability): The evaluation assessed whether clients feel more confident, that they have better ability and understanding of money management and are aware of independent financial advice available.
• Client satisfaction
• Other: The evaluation considered whether the project raised awareness of the advice and support available amongst other sector professionals.

Key findings

"Through the face to face casework older people have been empowered to make informed decisions, have gained greater knowledge of the options available and have been supported in appraising these options effectively. The feedback from clients is very positive." (CCHPR2014)

• Financial wellbeing: During the first 18 months of the project over £580,000 of new benefits and grants have been awarded to clients, with a high proportion of these benefits continuing to be received every year.
• Financial capability (Connection): Findings suggest that 60-70% of clients report receiving advice on energy efficiency to raise their awareness of potential help available.
• Financial capability (Ability): Findings suggest that 60-70% of clients report feeling more confident, that they have better ability and understanding of money management and are aware of independent financial advice available.
• Other: “Through the strategic and promotional work the projects have raised the profile of FirstStop amongst sector professionals and older people, making them aware of the telephone helpline and the resources available on the website. The caseworkers are playing a role in joining up different services across the housing, health and social care system to achieve outcomes which would not otherwise have been achieved.” (CCHPR 2014)

Points to consider

• Relevance: The issue of support and advice on financial issues including those related to housing for older people continues to be relevant.
• Generalisability/transferability: The project worked with four local partners each with a different focus and delivery model, resulting in only very general findings being transferable.
• Methodological strengths or limitations: There was limited evidence presented for the findings. Many of these were based on a relatively small number of interviews (28) as well as client self-assessment surveys which had been problematic, with responses lower than anticipated (no numbers provided on response rate) and clients reluctant to complete the forms. No information on the overall scale of the project (i.e. total number of clients) was provided. Therefore, there is no robust quantitative evidence on client outcomes, although qualitatively positive outcomes are reported. Those completing the self-assessment survey or agreeing to participate may have had a more positive experience, potentially introducing bias into the results.

Full report

Managing money better project evaluation - full report