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85. Tailoring and Localising Money Guiders

The Money Guiders Programme supports public service, public benefit and not-for-profit organisations across the UK to hold conversations about money. The cost-of-living crisis and recent welfare reforms has led to more people seeking information and guidance, with conversations about money becoming increasingly common. Training covers a range of topics such as debt, pensions, and budgeting, supporting anyone who interacts with members of the public to hold open, helpful and honest conversations about money. Content is split across three tiers, with higher tiers consisting of more complex material.

Kada Research were commissioned by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) to assess how best the Money Guiders Programme can be tailored and localised to meet the needs of clients and partners to ensure long-term embeddedness within an organisation. This included assessing the adaptability of content and the whether the context was relevant to a specific region.

To assess the applicability, suitability and adaptability of the Money Guiders Programme, Kada analysed data provided by MaPS. Budgeting and cashflow support were the most frequently engaged with, followed by households and planning for later life. There was a wide geographical spread of partners involved, with Wales seeing the highest levels of participation and the East Midlands seeing the lowest.

Kada also engaged in conversations with system-level and non-system-level partners, such as Councils, credit unions and regional careers services to understand how their organisations have utilised training, their motivations for engaging and how they monitor progress.

The offer was viewed incredibly positively by all, with the professionalism and supportiveness of the MaPS team highlighted as a key strength of the training. As well as this, the training could effectively be adapted to suit the needs of a variety of organisations, including those working with young people who have never worked, those working with single parents who are managing debt, and those looking to understand their pension and retirement options. Additional support to monitor engagement and understand the impact of the training would be appreciated.

“This research showcased the importance of money guidance and the ability to have open conversations about money, especially as people navigate the cost-of-living-crisis. The report will help MaPS localise their offer, ensuring it meets regional needs and priorities whilst responding to the changing financial circumstances of residents. Evidence-based recommendations emphasised the next steps for MaPS, such as creating regionally applicable training content, establishing standardised targets and outcomes, and developing multiple modes of delivery to meet the needs of learners and their communities.”

Karl Dalgleish, Study Director

If you are thinking about commissioning an evaluation study or if you would like to talk through an idea or hear about this work, you can contact us at info@kadaresearch.co.uk.