evaluation
Evidence type: Evaluation i
Information about the programme design and rationale
Evidence about Financial Capability outcomes for programme participants
Evidence that the Financial Capability outcomes were caused by the programme
Evidence about programme implementation, feasibility, and piloting
Evidence about relative costs and benefits of the programme
Managing Chang£ aimed to explore to what extent a financial capability intervention, delivered through a training and referrals process, would positively impact the money management skills, knowledge and behaviours of working age people with chronic or acute mental health conditions.
An intensive programme of financial capability training was provided to service users in late 2017. Training focused on money management (budgeting, borrowing, saving, using on-line and paper based tools), as well as signposting to free and impartial advice services in the areas of debt and income maximisation (e.g. benefit checks). 114 service users from 15 schemes engaged in the project; 44 service users took part in all training sessions.
Three, one-day, training sessions covering issues such as signposting, supported self-referrals, and financial capability mentoring were delivered to Inspire Mental Health Support Workers and Volunteers, who took on the role of Money Champion within their scheme. The three training sessions were delivered to 35 participants, including 30 Support Workers and five Volunteers.
The main research question was: ‘What impact will a financial capability training and referrals intervention have on day centre service users experiencing acute or chronic mental health conditions?’ The evaluation design included an outcome and process evaluation, and limited cost effectiveness analysis. The evaluation captured a range of qualitative and quantitative data through pre-intervention and post-intervention surveys (including a post-training and a three-month follow-up survey), as well as interviews, focus groups, case studies and observational data. 82 surveys were completed by Money Champions across the baseline, post training and three-month follow-up surveys. The methodology required that service users and Money Champions completed a baseline survey before the first training session, a post-survey directly after the final training session, and a follow-up survey three months after the training.
Methodological limitations:
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Advice NI1 Rushfield Ave., Belfast BT7 3FP training@adviceni.net