SAFE is part of Toynbee Hall, a charity working to combat social exclusion. This particular project, promoting greater financial inclusion, supports clients (at no charge) who currently receive benefits and have not switched to Direct Payment and need to. Our workers can talk with your clients about their account options and support them in opening their choice of account. We have a team of 10 project workers working all over London (funded by the DWP), who can provide expert help in opening accounts.

 

The Project works through the following process, as part of an Informed Choice Discussion, so the client understands their options and can choose the best options for them:-

 

• Understand Direct Payment of benefits, and what it means for them
• Work out what kind of account is best for them
• Open up their choice of account
• Switch their benefits over to Direct Payment

 

SAFE has been working in the area of financial inclusion for several years and has lots of practical experience delivering information about financial products. The Access Project works across London and the South east. The methodology includes: -

 

·         an Informed Choice Discussion – a 1-1 meeting aimed at helping clients understand their banking choices

·         making informal presentations, for example, to group meetings and events

·         establishing relationships with bank branches,

·         helping clients to action their choice, offering follow-up meetings and support, for example, helping with identification documents and filling in application forms.

 

We will tailor our service to meet the needs of your clients and organisations, whether offering drop-ins, working with you to market the project in newsletters, setting appointments, being based in your offices or centres, or taking referrals – whichever works best for you. We can also start soon if you think the service is required urgently.

 

Training for Staff :- We are also offering training sessions for staff working directly with clients – set training days and we can offer in-house training too if there is demand.

 

Please feel free to contact me regarding taking this forward in any way.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Lucy Thomson

SAFE Access Project Worker

 

28 Commercial Street

London

E1 6LS

 

Direct Line : 020 7392 2941    

Fax: 020 7247 4017

Mobile: 07949 836 318

 

Learning from local action - developing national solutions

 

To find out more about Toynbee Hall please visit www.toynbeehall.org.uk