Navigate Social Impact Report 2019 - 2021

Impact Report : 2019-2021

Funded and supported by:

Lucy found ways of working
with me and not against me.

She broke everything down
so I did not feel overpowered.

I never thought I would get out
of the hole I found myself in.

Your service saved my life.

BGET CLIENT

CONTENTS

Impact Report 2019 - 2021 3

WHO ARE WE?

Navigate is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), • Empower individuals and communities to tackle
a registered charity providing free, impartial, confidential social isolation through community development
and effective money and debt management advice and activities and provide innovative, high-quality,
financial capability courses across Devon and Somerset. accessible, responsive services which build and
share learning to inform practice, encourage
All of our work is designed to provide a social benefit by greater sector investment and to facilitate effective
tackling issues of social and financial exclusion within integrated working.
the communities we serve. Our products and services
are based on strong partnerships with a variety of
organisations from the public, private and charitable
sectors.

Navigates Vision: The support I got was
absolutely excellent. I didn’t
To eliminate social isolation and financial hardship. really know where I was going,
but as we went through the
Mission: process we worked together. I
had no confidence in myself to
To equip individuals and communities with the deal with these things. Now I
knowledge, skills and capabilities to overcome social can. I’m a different person. I’m
isolation and financial hardship through high-quality,
accessible advice services. in control of my money.

Objectives: Client CM

• Equip individuals and communities with the
knowledge, skills and capabilities to prevent
financial hardship;

• Educate individuals and communities in financial
literacy and capability, building skills, knowledge
and confidence to manage money effectively;

4 Impact Report 2019 - 2021

Navigate has a formal partnership with Encompass We aim to respond to all clients within 24 hours of first
Southwest and Mind in Somerset known as: contact. Our immediate assistance, within a client’s home
is recognised as one of the most unique and innovative
methods of eradicating poverty.

AdviceUK stated:

The partnership was formed in 2012 and currently delivers Wis£rmoney services are unique in
a number of Financial Inclusion services across Devon providing debt advice, welfare benefits
and Somerset and operates under a formal partnership advice and income maximisation with
agreement. in-depth casework support, delivered
through home visits across Devon and
Wis£rmoney specialise in providing comprehensive money Somerset. AdviceUK is not aware of any
and debt advice services to those who are facing financial other comparable debt advice service in
hardship and exclusion. England or Wales that delivers a home

Our service is unique in its delivery as one of the only visiting service in rural areas.
partnerships providing home visiting services, working at
our clients pace to ensure future financial resilience.

Both Navigate CIO and Encompass South West are
authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct
Authority for debt-related activities and members of
AdviceUK.

Our service currently operates in Devon and Somerset,
where there are an estimated 160,000 people who are
experiencing problem debt, and as such an estimated
96,554 children go without 1 or 2 necessities (Census,
2011).

Impact Report 2019 - 2021 5

OUR IMPACT As a result of the advice and service received,
our clients said:
1,396 individuals contacted
us for help 71% Felt better able to cover essential living
costs like gas, electricity and rent
1,750 cases were opened
to support clients 88% Feel less anxious
and worried about
27,425 money

interventions were 65% Feel more confident to
completed on behalf manage money
of clients
71% Feel more equipped if
100% of clients achieved they came up against
at least 1 successful a financial issue or
outcome problem in the future

62% of clients achieved 1,490 Financial Statements Prepared
their financial goals £716,083 of Debt Written Off

3,305 successful outcomes £1.8million of Debt Identified and Managed
recorded. £1.4million of Annual Gains in Income

6 Impact Report 2019 - 2021

All who took part in our financial education Savings to the Public Purse exceeding £4.5MILLION
workshops reported gaining new financial skills
and feeling more confidence to tackle their £130,832Reduced Stress and Anxiety
finances in the future (2019). £390,897Reduced Fuel Poverty

87% created their own £110,220Tenancy Secured
personal budget
89% learned new tools for Homelessness Averted
money management
£2,883,305Ability to Maintain Tenancy
Have a better understanding of: Debt Free £37,436
£952,087Able to Obtain Advice Locally
93% money management
choices ✔ Independent Financial Audit
✔ Independent Case Reviews
96% support available ✔ Independent Quality Audit
to them ✔ IMA Quality Assurance Standards

91% financial jargon/language The IMA said:

“The service overall is performing at a high standard.
It was evident from the cases reviewed that Navigate
provides a quality, client-focussed service. Navigate
meets the IMA’s quality assurance standards.”

Impact Report 2019 - 2021 7

HOW ARE WE DIFFERENT OUR APPROACH

We have a consistent approach We know that everyone’s
across all projects, working circumstances are different.
collaboratively with our clients, We listen, and help our clients
funders and other agencies set their own goals

We meet people in their We respond promptly and We focus
own space and work at their respectfully with named on building
pace. We stay involved until caseworkers who are confidence
goals are met approachable, knowledgeable and skills to
and contactable help people
make informed decisions and
We leave people in We strive to enable maintain changes in their
control of their individuals and behaviour
situation and communities to be
aware of who more resilient and Building effective
to ask for help if provide a voice for partnerships
people who struggle - we believe
they need it to be heard in and
promote
progress through
partnership

8 Impact Report 2019 - 2021

WHERE DO WE WORK?

Across the predominantly rural areas
of Devon and Somerset:

West Somerset

North Devon

Torridge

Mid Devon

Teignbridge

Impact Report 2019 - 2021 9

OUR CLIENTS

We specialise in designing and delivering services which are
accessible to those unable to access mainstream advice. Our
target client group are hard to reach, often socially or rurally
isolated, in fuel poverty, digitally excluded, in debt and faced with
a change in circumstance, financial hardship and sometimes at
risk of homelessness.

70% of clients disclosed 34% 50%
a health issue
16%
69% recorded a 71% recorded
physical or long diagnosed Age Range % Of Clients
term health issue mental ill health
17 - 24 23.6%
25% have caring 22% disclosed an 25 - 34 15.7%
responsibilities addiction 35 - 49 23.9%
50 - 64 21.5%
22% were identified 25% are digitally 65+ 15.3%
as victims of excluded
financial abuse

22% have a learning
difficulty

10 Impact Report 2019 - 2021

Economic Status % of Housing Status %
Clients of
Homeless Clients
Registered Carer 3.5% 0.1%
Government Work or Training Scheme 0.1%
In Training or Education 19.4% Homeless - Rough Sleeper 0.8%
Jobseeker 12.8%
Registered Unemployed 3.0% Homeless - Sofa Surfer 0.9%
Retired 11.7%
Self Employed 3.1% Homeowner - Mortgaged Property 5.6%
Unfit for Work 33.4%
Working Full Time Homeowner - Own outright 5.1%
(over 30 hours) 5.1%
Working Part Time Homeowner - Shared Ownership 0.3%
Working Part Time 3.1%
(16 - 29 hours a week) Own Outright 0.4%
Working Part Time 3.4%
(less than 16 hours a week) Tenant - Council Property 15.3%
1.2%
Tenant - Housing Association 20.2%

Tenant - Living with Family & paying rent 1.7%

Tenant - Lodger and paying rent 0.7%

Tenant - Private 24.0%

Tenant - Registered Provider 1.3%

Tenant - Rent Free living with friends/ 21.4%
family

Tenant - Temporary Housing 2.2%

Tenant - Tolerated Trespasser 0.2%

Impact Report 2019 - 2021 11

OUR SERVICES AND FUNDERS

Financial Education Our courses

Navigate the Money Maze (NtMM) are highly interactive, • Introduction to Navigate the Money Maze/Taster
participative educational workshop which ‘steer’ Sessions - The introductory/taster courses are
participants through the money maze by providing delivered over 2-3 hours. Available face to face or as
information, tips and tools to enable effective money online workshops.
management and to help build financial resilience. The
courses and workshops are delivered through a series of • Certificate in Navigate the Money Maze - bespoke one
interactive games and discussions. day workshops delivered over one full day or two half
days. All participants receive a certificate of attendance.
All of our courses aim to: Available face to face or as online workshops.

• Contribute to lifelong educational achievement • Level One Navigate the Money Maze - Upon
completion of the course, participants achieve a
• Educate individuals in financial literacy and capability, level one award in Economic Wellbeing and Financial
building skills, knowledge, and confidence to manage Capability. Courses are delivered over 60 hours with
money effectively a blended approach to learning including face to
face group work, one to one work, home learning and
• Increase housing and employment opportunities virtual lessons.

• Create opportunity to meet others, increase • Level Two Navigate the Money Maze - Upon
community involvement and inclusion.
completion of the course, participants achieve a
How do the courses help?
level two award in Economic Wellbeing and Financial
Most of us have to make financial decisions and
manage money; as a young person receiving pocket Capability. As with the Level one award, courses are
money or starting a first job, or as an adult managing
a household budget. Money affects us all and having delivered over 60 hours with a blended approach to
the skills, knowledge and confidence to make informed
financial decisions can help in so many areas of life, learning including face to face group work, one to one
relationships, sleep patterns, anxiety and overall
wellbeing to name a few! work, home learning and virtual lessons.

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££55
£5 ££55£5 £5 ££55
£5 ££££5555 £5

12 Impact Report 2019 - 2021

OUR NAVIGATE THE MONEY MAZE FUNDERS

Mid Devon Local Support Fund Awards for All funded a one-
year project in partnership with
Navigate work in partnership Elim Connect. Elim’s Direct
with Churches Housing Action Access Community is an innovative project forged out of
Team (CHAT) to deliver the Mid a partnership between Mendip District Council, Addicott
Devon Local Support Fund. Partners (Manor Farm) and Elim Connect Centre which
launched in 2015. The only Direct Access Accommodation
Initially developed to support residents facing financial based in Mendip for Rough Sleepers, DAC provides up
hardship as a result of the pandemic. Mid Devon aims to two short-term assessment beds and four pre-move-
to ensure continuity of support for residents undergoing on beds to help Mendip citizens on their journey to
financial hardship while the continuing effects of the sustainable accommodation.
Covid19 pandemic are impacting on peoples’ lives and
livelihoods. Navigate worked from the heart of
the Dairy House to provide weekly
To date, we have received over 300 applications and Navigate the Money Maze Courses
provided practical support totalling over £27,000 in food, and one-to-one money and debt advice to residents on
fuel and essentials to help residents through financial their way to sustainable accommodation.
challenges created by the pandemic.

As part of this service both Navigate and CHAT provide
advice and support to applicants. Additional support may
include debt advice, money advice, income maximisation,
budgeting, housing advice and financial capability education.

Pilot Projects Yea, it was good. The budget was
good, and I use it now to help sort
In rural areas, homelessness is often hidden, with my bills. I had some help after the
people living in isolated circumstances rather than on course which was good and helped
pavements. The Dairy House is a hostel on a working farm
which is a stepping stone to long term accommodation. me sort my stuff out
Their remit is to give people the skills needed to move
forward with their lives. Course Participant
- The Dairy House

Impact Report 2019 - 2021 13

PARTNERSHIP MONEY Partnership.
AND DEBT ADVICE SERVICES

All of our money and debt advice services are delivered through the
Accessible, client centred services, tailored to individual need.

Money

Welfare Form Filling
Benefits

Mental Advice
Health
Budgeting

Debt Income
Maximisation

14 Impact Report 2019 - 2021

Our ethos makes us different short amount of focussed work or a longer involvement
needing casework. In the latter case, we embark on a
Our target client group are the hard to reach, often journey that can be a long one; we don’t place an upper
socially or rurally isolated, in fuel poverty, digitally timescale on our involvement. For someone who is
excluded, in debt and faced with a change in isolated and under pressure, this can take time and we
circumstance, financial hardship and sometimes at risk always work at the pace that works for our clients and
of homelessness. Our service is unique in its delivery in a space where they are comfortable – usually their
as one of the only partnerships providing home visiting own homes. We always have a named caseworker and
services, working at our clients pace to ensure future communication is through a means that works for our
financial resilience. clients. We put in mental health support if that is needed.

Our role is to look at the whole situation, explain the We record evidence of the issues found by us and our
options and enable the client to make informed decisions. clients, and use this to influence the development of
It is not a quick fix; clients may require multiple visits and social and health policy throughout our region and
cases may be open for 6 to 12 months. beyond.

I was struggling because I could not Applying the knowledge we have learned over a number
take any more. I didn’t know who to of years, we run several different projects, always working
cry out to. We went on little steps in partnership with other organisations. We address gaps
and we worked things through. I am in service for our clients as well as providing advocacy
a lot more in control. I’m budgeting. and advice for money and problem debt. We are very
proud of what we do!
I haven’t got the pressure. I can
sleep at night.” Wis£rmoney is funded by:
Client JC

Our aim is to empower clients and build Their confidence, For details of our projects and services please refer to
money management skills and resilience. Appendix A.

When clients are referred to us, either by themselves or
agencies, we respond quickly and triage their referral to
the appropriate level of our service or signpost clearly
to others. We identify whether there is a need for a

Impact Report 2019 - 2021 15

COMMUNITY EVENTS,
TRAINING AND ENGAGEMENT

have continued to build effective partnerships with
likeminded organisations and with a wide range of
statutory and voluntary sector organisations. We believe
strongly that partnership work adds value to the activities
and communities we work with; building the financial
resilience of individuals and reducing the stress and
anxiety of many enabling them to open the door to greater
community engagement and improved wellbeing.

628 Referrals 924 Referrals

made to partner received from
agencies partner agencies

16 Impact Report 2019 - 2021

Referral Partner consultation

In May 2020, we sent out an online survey to
every community partner who had made a client
referral to Wis£rmoney and given permission to be
contacted about their experience.

90% would recommend the
Wis£rmoney projects
to others
100%
of partners stated that it
was an essential or very
important service

Impact Report 2019 - 2021 17

Most important aspects of our service reflects the online nature of many benefit applications
but most significantly, applying for the working age
Referral partners were asked to use a frequency rating benefit, universal credit. Followed by lack of confidence
from not important to essential. The highest scoring talking to others and then poor mental health (3.89/78%),
(4.78 out of 5) was money and debt advice, followed by lack of money (3.67/73%) and lack of access to transport
form filling and budgeting to maximise income (4.56). (3.44/69%) which is much greater barrier for clients
All aspects of the service were valued quite highly as living in rural areas.
there was little difference (1.56) between the highest and
lowest scoring aspect. Did advice offer any ‘significant improvement’
to client’s wellbeing?
Barriers clients face
This survey question asked referral partners to gauge
The greatest barrier referral partners felt clients faced improvement to client’s wellbeing, from no improvement
was lack of confidence using a computer (4.11/82%) this to significant improvement. The area that received the

Most important aspect of our service out of five

5

4

3

2

1

0 Form Home No other Budgeting Benefit Mental Money Signposting Fuel
Filling visiting advice service advice health capability
Money advocacy training and energy
and debt available
advice advice

18 Impact Report 2019 - 2021

largest weighting for significant improvement was ‘reduced the space and stability to build their confidence, make
money worries’ with 44.44% (total including ‘quite a lot choices and plan for their future. Mirroring the quotes
of improvement’ 78%) with reduced stress and anxiety from clients who spoke of the advice offering a ‘lifeline’
(total 78%) ability to remain independent 33.33% (total and in future ‘I wouldn’t panic’.
67%) reduce risk of homelessness (total 56%) all receiving
significant improvement scores of 33.33%. Improved Service gaps impacting on your service users
budgeting 11.11% (total 78%) and reduced fuel poverty 67%
received high ‘quite a lot of improvement’ scores. We asked referral partners to list any gaps in services they
felt were impacting on their service users. Listed were:
This highlights that the provision of timely money and two areas of training, improving self-esteem and basic
debt advice improves individuals’ incomes and reduces budgeting to run alongside our Navigate the Money Maze
their debt but also reduces their anxiety and promotes and practical help for individuals with benefit form filling,
independence at the same time as reducing the risk of more access to face to face advice, more support to help
becoming homeless. The advice provided individuals with individuals who are presently digitally excluded.

Improvement to client’s wellbeing

80.00%
70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
00.00%

Reduced Reduced Reduced Help to Improved Reduced
money stress fuel maintain budgeting risk of
worries independence homelessness
and anxiety poverty

Impact Report 2019 - 2021 19

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally The project aimed to attract 90 learners in the first 18
recognised training course which teaches people how months and achieved 91. The figures would have been
to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and much higher had it not been for the pandemic and having
provide help on a first aid basis. MHFA won’t teach an to cancel the final training day.
individual to be a therapist, but just like physical first aid,
it will teach them to listen, reassure and respond, even I feel the course was very beneficial not only
in a crisis. Adult MHFA courses are for everyone aged 16 for my working role but from a personal point
upwards. of view, it has definitely given me a lot more
understanding of the causes and warning signs
As part of the BGET project and partnership with Mind in
Somerset we aim to raise awareness of the importance My reason for attending the course was to have
of mental health wellbeing and through the provision of a greater level of knowledge and understanding
training, build the capacity and confidence of our referral about Mental Health. We support clients in our role
and community partners to support individuals with poor through looking at their Health & Well-Being, but
mental health. I never truly understood what everything means
- each diagnosis, their personal journey. Through
To achieve this, we offered free access to three two day attending the course, I feel confident in knowing
and four half day mental health first aid workshops. This how to listen and more importantly how to signpost
training is accredited and for smaller organisations the to the right person - knowing that doesn’t have to
cost of buying in this training for team members and be me. In a sense the knowledge and understanding
volunteers would be prohibitive. Due to this we focussed gained through being on the course has given me
on promoting these opportunities to voluntary and freedom within my role not to be afraid to explore
charitable sector workers and volunteers as well as to our
statutory partners. as I know where I can go for help

Excellent, more companies should
make it compulsory to attend

20 Impact Report 2019 - 2021

Mental Health First Aid

Venue/date Number Average Uplift Average Uplift Learner
of learners confidence knowledge rating, good
Barnstaple 16 & 23/9/2019 before & after /very good
Tiverton 1 & 2/10/2019 before & after
Williton 18 & 19 /12/2019
Minehead 02/03/2020 18 4.75/8.25 3.5 5.50/8.75 3.25 100%
Barnstaple 11/03/2020
Crediton 13/03/2020 14 4/7.25 3.25 5.25/8 2.75 100%
Total and uplift average score
12 2.5/9.5 7 3.5/10 6.5 100%

20 5.89/8.10 2.21 5.73/8.63 2.9 100%

16 7/8.58 1.58 6.25/8.58 2.33 100%

11 5.9/8.63 2.73 5.63/9.09 3.46 100%

91 3.37 3.53 100%

Half day training Having worked with many clients over the
years who struggle with mental health I have
The target was to deliver four workshops offering up to done a lot of self-led learning and research
25 free places, in Minehead, West Somerset, Barnstaple, into mental health issues and how to support.
Crediton and South Molton. The demand was enormous, This course has given me confidence that I
75 places booked by mid-February, both Minehead and am doing the right things and I now have a
South Molton had a waiting list. However, understandably, certificate to show that I have attended an
with the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic as we
progressed through March the figures booked began accredited course
to drop and by the time we reached Minehead we had
25 booked which dropped to 20, Barnstaple, 22 booked
dropped to 16, Crediton, 20 booked became 11 and we had
to postpone South Molton training as it became obvious
it would be unsafe to go ahead and we were heading for a
national lock down.

Impact Report 2019 - 2021 21

RON’S STORY

Client had an interest only mortgage for £45k on a Client had no salvageable furniture and the house was
house he had lived in for 50+ years, and which he in such a state as to be unsellable. £61k of debt –
couldn’t pay off secured and unsecured

“It was me Dad’s house. I been there a long time; “I have lost a lot of things. The furniture is all
most of me life. When me mother died, I stayed with my gone. It wasn’t fit to bring. All I had was me TV, DVD
Dad. He brought me up.” player. There was big problems. I was really worried
about it. There was credit cards. Credit cards and a
Client could not afford to pay off the mortgage, being charge against the house; a couple of others…” Heavy
retired and on a low income sigh “I used to spend and go overboard.”

“I didn’t have the money to do whatever. Things Client was moved into temporary respite
got on top of me and I ended up ill. I felt really awful. I accommodation for 6 weeks but due to be homeless as
felt really low.” house was unfit to return to

Hoarded for many years and lived in completely “As soon as I got there I had dinner. I had dinner!
inadequate accommodation. Not feeding himself I had a shower and one of the care workers got me beard
properly, unkempt and isolated all done; cut me hair. I vowed I’ll never get like that again.
When I went back to the house I just had to come out
“I know what I’d done; I let meself go. I just again. I felt awful when I went there. Respite brought me
chucked stuff down. If you’d seen me…my face, my hair..” round a bit.”

Kitchen and bathroom were inaccessible because of As he owned a property, he could not claim rent in
hoarding and a large hole in the communicating floor/ advance, council tax support or housing benefit, so
ceiling. Client lived and slept in the lounge for many was trying to pay everything in full on his own and his
years temporary accommodation

“I hadn’t shaved or nothing like that. The 138 separate interventions.
bathroom was all to blazes. The bedroom was as well. I
was on the settee. I was going to get it all sorted out but
it was all falling down amongst me. It couldn’t have been
worse for me.”

9 home visits to date (case ongoing)

22 Impact Report 2019 - 2021

Financial outcomes: I’ve come round. I’ve got to do it
for meself. I wouldn’t have done
Income maximised - £14,243.83 it. I’d be in a worse position now
but ‘A’s’ put me on the straight
Debt managed/repaid - £62,677.60 and narrow. I know where I am.
I’m managing. I came through!
“It’s a big weight off my shoulders. It feels a lot better.”

Social Impact/client wellbeing

Client has carers 7 days a week, home help once a week
and someone to take him shopping

“’A.’ (caseworker) helped turn my life around.”

We have set up telephone banking so client can keep on top
of income and outgoings; he has an organised folder with
correspondence so he knows who to contact and how

“What’s the date? So, this week I should be getting
a monthly bank statement. I always have a look. When I
know what I’ve got in my account, I know what to do for
shopping.”

Client does his own washing in the communal laundry.
Attends to his personal care and keeps his bungalow
clean

“I shower in the morning. I dust, I hoover. I mop the
floor. It makes me feel better. I’m happy!”

Client’s mental health, his entire outlook and way of life
has dramatically improved

“I did something I never thought I’d be able to do –
treated my mate’s grandchildren. It made me feel lovely.

Impact Report 2019 - 2021 23

We went on little steps. I could
rely on her. I got me benefits
sorted now. I’ve got a beautiful
flat. I budget. I’ve got me folder
with all me paperwork in. It’s in a
format I can understand. I am a
lot more in control. I haven’t got
the pressure.

I can smile now. I can relax.

I can sleep at night.

I have a future.

24 Impact Report 2019 - 2021

JACK’S STORY

Low income/unemployment Mental ill health
“I was worried about everything. Couldn’t
“I moved back home again cos I could see Dad concentrate. Didn’t eat properly. I couldn’t sleep. I had
wasn’t coping. The best option was to give up work to care suicidal thoughts.”
for him.” Formal Outcomes
Case opened in Aug 2019 and still continuing
Health needs Work has covered 237 separate items to date
Total financial outcomes over one year £24,064.65
“Dad was going downhill. He was a hoarder. He’d Debt has been written off and also managed
get confused. Not eat properly. I tried to keep on top of it
but it just piled up. I had a kind of breakdown.” Outcomes for Jack
Jack’s father was taken into care with a diagnosis of
Not knowing where to start dementia. Before this he had accrued many debts which
Jack was left to deal with.
“He was hiding letters. He’d taken out a bank loan. He had signed their home away in an equity release
The bank would ring. Bailiffs would turn up at the door. It scheme; we were able to support Jack to find housing.
was chaotic.”

Isolation

“I couldn’t have friends round cos it was such a
horrible place. I was worried when the doorbell rang. It was
like I was in a tunnel and I could see a little light at the end
of the tunnel. It was going further away from me.”

Learning difficulties/disabilities

“I left school with no qualifications because I
suffered from dyslexia. I needed help.”

Impact Report 2019 - 2021 25

CLAIRE’S STORY in her own words

“We moved here in June 2013. We had savings. I was was depressed because of John dying. I was depressed
working. I’ve worked all me life. I was the breadwinner, because of the debt. My sleep patterns were all over the
working full-time as a carer for the elderly. I took on some place. My anxiety levels were through the roof. I had no
private clients here in the village. (I don’t drive.) Life was confidence whatsoever. Nothing’s easy: having a shower;
really good. Things seemed really good. Then my partner mowing the lawn (where people could see me..). I wasn’t
died in Sept 2014. It was expected, but not so quickly. We going out.
were together for twenty years. We thought we had more
years together. I’ve got no family here, so when he passed January 2018: four years of self help and self-medicating
I had no support as such. with alcohol; I had no income, but the thought of signing
on… You have to register for Universal Credit which I was
I did carry on working, but I found it too much. Some dreading, but I got £380 a month. £380 a month; but all
mornings I just couldn’t get out of bed. Since I was in my your bills. I had a dog as well. I don’t know how I got by. I
early twenties I’ve suffered from depression on and off. didn’t eat properly.
I couldn’t get out of the door – just couldn’t. To try and
explain that to somebody is a difficult thing, you know. But I was desperate to pay the minimum amount on these
I met up with the client’s families and explained, and that’s credit cards cos I thought at least it will stop the nasty
when I gave up working completely. So I had no income; letters. But then I couldn’t do that any more. They were
no benefits. I was just completely lost. I started drinking texting my phone all the time. I was getting voicemails. I
heavily. It was the only way I could get through the day. was in a right state. I had letters unopened. I was totally
And it was while I was under the influence of alcohol that I overwhelmed. I thought ‘God, I’m going to lose this house!’
would spend, spend, spend. Somebody else would say ‘Sell it!’ It sounds so easy. But
when your mindset’s like that, nothing’s easy. And I love
We put this house in both our names and with what this house. The memories here. John.
money we had left from selling our last property we
opened a joint account. So I had £30,000…and I spent My doctor had always been supportive and through
it in two or three years. I took out a second mortgage the village agent put me in touch with M. and G. (from
on the house: £50,000. And I spent all of that as well. Wis£rmoney). I was nervous, but started to feel almost
Spend, spend, spend…cos it made me feel good. When immediately that a heavy weight was being lifted off my
that money started dwindling, that’s when I started taking shoulders. M. was here for four hours. It was amazing – I
out credit cards. When I still had money, my credit score felt ‘I’m going to get some help!’ People with mental health
was excellent. I thought ‘I could lose this house; this is issues are scared of asking for help, cos it’s a big thing
awful!’ But I was just so low I could hardly function. I to admit, isn’t it? The stigma of mental health. People
looking in, who don’t understand.

26 Impact Report 2019 - 2021

The support I got from M. and G. was absolutely excellent. I can do doggy walks for people who can’t take their little
I didn’t really know where I was going. Day one, I couldn’t pooch out. M. and G. helped me through my debt, and with
do anything. But as we went through the process, we my mental health as well. They helped me through the
worked together. And as the time went on, I realised… whole thing. Through the help and support I was getting
well, yes – there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I was through them, I went to Cruse. I was so angry at the world,
gradually coming out at the other end. More in control at everybody; including myself. That’s part of bereavement.
of my finances, and how to budget properly. It was I wouldn’t have gone. They helped me get through so much
unbelievable – I didn’t realise how much my spending had more than my debt. I’ll be forever grateful to the pair of
got out of control. Embarrassing. them. They made me stronger. I am patting myself on the
back. I am totally debt free.
Because of my mental health, both M. and G. said I could
claim the higher amount (of benefit), which meant going It’s such a lovely feeling.”
for an assessment. I wouldn’t have done it if it hadn’t been
for them. Before they came, there was no chance. But
that’s how much they helped me. I was actually able to go
to the assessment on my own. Going through this process
with M. and G., I could feel my confidence going up and up.
I thought ‘I’ve got to do this on my own.’ And I did. I was
awarded the extra payment.

I’m a different person to what I was when M. and G. first
came. I couldn’t have done a thing myself. I couldn’t make
any decisions. I had no confidence in myself to deal with
these sorts of things. Now I can. I’m in control of my
money. And it’s all through the advice I got from M. and G.
that I’m able to do things. I had seven new heaters through
a government scheme; I arranged all that myself. Before
M. and G. came on the scene, there’s no chance I would
have done that. I wouldn’t have even made a phone call.
But it’s going through the process with them; I came out
the other end feeling that way.

I’m always going to have bad days; that’s my depression.

It never goes. But I volunteer for the village community
scheme now. I phone people who live on their own for a
chat.

Impact Report 2019 - 2021 27

MOVING FORWARD

Resuming Developing Continuing

of community wellbeing our offer of online and in person to develop and deliver
events: Planning under training on ‘Debt Awareness’ to ‘Navigate the Money Maze’

way for an event in other agencies. in online, workshop and
Winkleigh, Torridge. accredited course formats. Also
Plans to reinstate an Sharing networking within communities
event planned for Lifton,
West Devon pre-Covid social policy issues that to extend our reach with
our clients face in order to supporting isolated clients.

effect change.

Navigate CIO registered charity number 1182020.
Registered address: Heatherton Park Studios, Bradford on Tone, Taunton TA4 1EU.
Navigate is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority 837950 for debt-related regulated activities. Tel: 01823 299050

Mind in Somerset Encompass Southwest
Registered Charity No. 1109626, registered in England. Registered charity 1145286, registered in England, company number 07149873.
Registered address : Sussex Lodge, 44 Station Road, Taunton. TA1 1NS.
Registered address: Suite 1,2 Bear Street, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 7BU.
www.mindinsomerset.org.uk Encompass Southwest is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
www.facebook.com/mindinsomerset | @mindinsomerset. Tel: 01823 334906
618752 for debt-related regulated activities. Tel: 01271 371499