CIH Extends Help with Financial Inclusion
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is launching the first ever training course for financial inclusion project leaders in housing organisations. This follows its appointment of a Financial Capability Advisor in June 2007 to help housing organisations build their residents’ money management skills.
CIH has developed a new programme to support the development of financial inclusion strategies in housing organisations. For this first year all places on the course are free, the development and delivery of the programme has been funded by the ‘now lets talk money’ campaign, Small Projects Fund.
The programme will examine the main elements of a financial inclusion strategy and how to work with partners to implement successful initiatives with residents order to develop their financial capability and help them gain access to more mainstream financial products and services.
Sharon Wheeler, CIH Financial Capability Advisor, said: “There is a huge unmet demand for training and support in this area. Many housing organisations are realising that the more they build the capability of their residents to manage their money, the more the residents themselves and the organisation will benefit.”
*ENDS*
(Issued on behalf of the CIH by Jill Dwyer, CIH
Notes to Editors:
- Delivering Financial Inclusion Strategies and the Financial Inclusion Award is a Level 6 programme that includes a two-day taught element and a formal written report. It is available in seven locations around the
- Information about the Department for Work and Pensions’ ‘now let’s talk money’ campaign can be found at: www.nowletstalkmoney.com. The campaign offers a free phone service 0800 012 1656, which offers advice about where to go for affordable credit, information about banking, or free face-to-face money and debt advice.
- The post of Financial Capability Advisor at CIH is funded by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and is part of a drive to help people budget, save for the future and prevent them falling into debt. Social housing tenants account for 70% of the most financially excluded in the UK, with less access to mainstream financial services than other groups and with a recognised need for better money management advice.
- The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is the professional body for people involved in housing and communities. We are a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation. We have a diverse and growing membership of over 20,000 – both in the public and private sectors – living and working in over 20 countries on five continents across the world. Our members work for local authorities, housing associations, Arms Length Management Organisations, Government bodies, educational establishments and the private sector. Many tenants and residents are also members. We exist to maximise the contribution that housing professionals make to the wellbeing of communities. Further information is available at: www.cih.org
