We and and Citizens Advice Wandsworth are looking for an expert, kind Money Advice Caseworker to provide high-quality debt advice to people needing to use our foodbank.
The role is in our wonderful Foodbank Advice Project team, which last year provided advice and support to more than 600 people in hardship across Wandsworth borough. The Foodbank Advice Project started in 2015, and is a partnership between Wandsworth Foodbank and Citizens Advice Wandsworth.
Debt is a growing issue, which is why we’re delighted to have been able to access grant-funding for this new role. Our recent research, Pressure is Rising, found that the cost of living crisis, alongside low-paid work and benefits that did not cover essential costs, has resulted in three- quarters (75%) of food bank guests falling behind with bills and one-third (30%) reporting having debt repayments that they couldn’t afford. More than half of referrers (51%) reported debt as an impact of hardship that they had seen in their clients.
Several guests interviewed reported having to borrow money to try to meet essential costs, like rent, food, gas and electricity, causing them further problems and stress. One man said:
“I managed to juggle, borrow money from friends, family, anyone. Sometimes you see these debt things on TV and you wonder how on earth did someone get in such a situation where they just owed money everywhere? Well, just to survive, that was me.”
The role is a full-time, permanent one as part of Citizens Advice Wandsworth. More info here and how to apply here.
Closing date: 10am on Thursday 30th November
Interviews: Tuesday 6th December
