On Tuesday 20 October, London’s Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, visited Barking Learning Centre Community and Family Hub to see how the Family Financial Resilience Partnership is supporting local families.
The GLA-funded programme brings together Barking and Dagenham Council’s Family Hub teams and specialist advice organisations to provide free, independent financial advice and wider support to local families.
In its first six months, the partnership has already supported 612 families across Barking and Dagenham.
Councillor Dominic Twomey, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said: "We know that many families in Barking and Dagenham are struggling. Trying to put food on the table and keep their homes warm, while dealing with other pressures in their lives, can be incredibly difficult.
Through the GLA-funded Family Financial Resilience Partnership, we’re bringing our Family Hub teams and specialist advice organisations together so families can get free, independent financial advice alongside wider support in a familiar, trusted place.
This partnership is already making a real difference, supporting 612 families in its first six months. We want our residents to be able to do more than just get by, to enjoy life and feel part of our community.
Working together with the GLA and our local partners, we’ll continue to build on this support and seek sustainable funding so we can be there for families for as long as they need us."
Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, said: "I was delighted to visit Barking Learning Centre Community and Family Hub to see first-hand the impact that the Mayor’s support is having. We know that so many Londoners are struggling to get by, yet are completely unaware of, or unable to access, the financial support available to them.
As winter approaches and concerns about covering bills increase, we’re delighted to be extending the work of the Family Financial Resilience Partnership to more boroughs so that even more families can access the support they’re entitled to. This work is an important part of realising the Mayor’s ambition to make London the greatest city in the world to grow up in."
The visit comes as the Mayor of London announces a further £4.7 million in funding to expand the Family Financial Resilience Partnership across the capital.
Barking and Dagenham Council will continue working with the GLA and local partners to help residents access the financial advice and practical support available to them.