Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval of the recommended awards of grants under the above scheme following a round of competitive bids and a selection panel process.

Resolved: That approval be given to the award of £113,276 of grants to fund the following seven projects to deliver financial inclusion activities in the city:

1.   £5,818 to the Older Citizens Advocacy York (OCAY) Benefits Advocacy project to provide advocacy support to help with applications, assessments and appeals

2.   £13,229 to the Citizens’ Advice York Financial Inclusion at GP surgeries project to continue to develop co-ordinated advice work located in GP practices.

3.   £5,385 to the Citizens’ Advice York Financial Inclusion in the Traveller Community project to work with the Travellers Trust to deliver and co-ordinate advice services to the Gypsy & Traveller community.

4.   £25,057 to the Peasholme Charity My Money, My Life project to continue the delivery if its financial capability pathway service

5.   £13,900 to the Welfare Benefits Unit advice Extra project to extend the reach of services to underpin first tier advisors in responding to more complex cases.

6.   £19,262 to the Experience Counts 50+ Project to deliver four employment related programmes to residents aged 50+ 

7.   £30,625 to Changing Lives for a Financial & Social Inclusion Worker to support vulnerable and hard to reach residents to gain financial independence

Reason:     To ensure that funds set aside to support the delivery of financial inclusion activity are allocated appropriately.

The Executive Members considered a report recommending the approval of grants under 2021/22 Financial Inclusion Grant Scheme following a round of competitive bids and a selection panel process.

The Assistant Director Customer and Digital Services outlined the grants noting that this year, the council had been able to fund seven schemes as opposed to six schemes the previous year and she highlighted the importance of this in context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Executive Member for Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods supported the grant allocations noting the importance of the organisations involved in supporting communities. She welcomed the schemes, in particular to the Traveller Community project. The Executive Member for Finance and Performance also welcomed schemes, noting that it was good to see new funding bids coming in. It was:

Resolved: That approval be given to the award of £113,276 of grants to fund the following seven projects to deliver financial inclusion activities in the city:

1.   £5,818 to the Older Citizens Advocacy York (OCAY) Benefits Advocacy project to provide advocacy support to help with applications, assessments and appeals

2.   £13,229 to the Citizens’ Advice York Financial Inclusion at GP surgeries project to continue to develop co-ordinated advice work located in GP practices.

3.   £5,385 to the Citizens’ Advice York Financial Inclusion in the Traveller Community project to work with the Travellers Trust to deliver and co-ordinate advice services to the Gypsy & Traveller community.

4.   £25,057 to the Peasholme Charity My Money, My Life project to continue the delivery if its financial capability pathway service

5.   £13,900 to the Welfare Benefits Unit advice Extra project to extend the reach of services to underpin first tier advisors in responding to more complex cases.

6.   £19,262 to the Experience Counts 50+ Project to deliver four employment related programmes to residents aged 50+ 

7.   £30,625 to Changing Lives for a Financial & Social Inclusion Worker to support vulnerable and hard to reach residents to gain financial independence

Reason:     To ensure that funds set aside to support the delivery of financial inclusion activity are allocated appropriately.