Group overview 2010 - Riverside

Increasing prosperity
Decent homes, active resident involvement
and community investment are only part of
the answer when revitalising neighbourhoods
in the long term.
As part of our service delivery, we look at
ways of increasing the financial prosperity
of residents, by creating local employment
opportunities and offering financial advice
to those who need it.
As Keith Hutton, one of seven trained benefits
advisors, explains: “Many people are missing out
on benefits because they find the system hard
to understand, are embarrassed about claiming,
or simply don’t realise they are entitled. Yet the
money is rightfully theirs and could make a big
difference to their weekly income.”
But benefits advice is only one aspect of our
work. We actively encourage all our business
partners to employ locally within the areas
they will serve, and we support local authority
initiatives such as Liverpool City Council’s
Transitional Employment Programme.
We are also tackling financial exclusion within
our neighbourhoods by offering affordable
financial services such as loans and insurance
to those who would traditionally struggle to
access them.
One such example is Moneyline, a St. Helens
based service funded by the Department of
Work and Pensions that provides loans to
customers that banks may traditionally decline.
Many of them are forced to use doorstep
lenders who charge high interest rates –
this only sends them deeper into financial
difficulties. The Moneyline service aims to
provide an affordable alternative to doorstep
lenders whilst helping customers to manage
their money and become more confident with
their finances.
Key facts
— In 2007 we helped our customers claim a
total of £451,026 of additional benefits in
Merseyside alone.
— We provided £211,900 funding for credit
unions – the financial cooperatives owned
and controlled by members.
— Since 2006, the Riverside Impact Fund has
created 13 jobs and 103 training places.
— Since October 2008, Moneyline has
provided 513 loans totalling £212,200.
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