Ulster Bank's 'Money Advice Support Programme'

1. Description of the programme
2. The study
3. Key findings
4. Points to consider

Description of the programme

The aim of the programme was to help individuals better manage their money, including improving their budgeting, making more informed borrowing decisions, and learning how to discuss and organise finances in the home. It was also developed to assist those in debt or heading into debt, providing people with strategies to manage their debt situation and signposting them to relevant services such as free debt advice.

• Participants were intially recruited from the Debt Action NI project. However, for various reasons (including the 'taboo' of being in debt, concern about others finding out about their debt situation, and being too worried about the immediacy of their current situation) the programme was offered to a wider audience in order to increase participation.
• This programme ran 2 hours a week for 4 weeks (2 hours per session) and was delivered to individuals in groups as well as to existing community groups. Four key units were covered during these sessions, including ‘Better Budgeting’, ‘Savvy Borrowing’, ‘Coping with Money Problems’ (Debt Strategies) and ‘Talking about Money at Home’.
• A ‘Train the Trainer' programme was developed and delivered to 27 potential tutors. Tutors were recruited and selected from the Debt Advice, Money Advice and Financial Advice fields.
• The programme was marketed across NI including newspapers, websites, community papers, radio, and via advice and community networks.
• This project was funded by Ulster Bank’s Community Impact Fund and managed by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.
• The MASP ran throughout February and March 2014, and during this time 143 participants attended the programme from a diverse population.

The study

One independent impact evaluation of the programme has been undertaken in 2014. This study involved questionnaires, data tracking, issues logs and observations over a period of 2 months, and a sample size of 143 participants.

Key findings

The evaluation (which involved questionnaires, data tracking, issues logs and observations amongst the participant group) found positive impacts in relation to the following outcomes:

• Financial behaviour: There was a positive shift in money management behaviour amongst participants with many reporting they had implemented the knowledge learned between sessions. Learners also committed to further changes to the way they manage and talk about money in the future.
• Financial Capability (Ability): Participants reported an increase in their knowledge and skills in all aspects covered in the programme.
• Other: The wellbeing and confidence of participants improved as a result of the programme in all units covered including feeling less stressed and worried about financial management.

Points to consider

Demand for the programme was much higher than actual participation due to various barriers including not being able to make the time/date, transport issues and childcare issues. Recommendations to improve the programme including reducing barriers, improving access, increasing up-take and avoiding financial exclusion include the following:

• Offer alternative course structures e.g. over two days rather than four
• Develop an alternative version of the programme to meet different needs e.g. language, literacy, and learning needs
• Develop an on-line version of the programme
• Allow self-selection of units
• Offer a practical, hands-on workshop alongside the budgeting course for participants to implement the learning with support available
• Deliver to existing community groups
• Deliver sessions during the day rather than evening
• A focused approach to delivery e.g. focus on certain locations at a time, not NI wide

Full report

Full research report