“We should all have enough to live a decent and dignified life.”
This Challenge Poverty Week (CPW), our team at CVS Falkirk is highlighting the efforts of our local third sector and communities in tackling poverty across the Falkirk District.
Challenge Poverty Week was launched by the Poverty Alliance in 2013, as a way to draw attention to the injustice of poverty in Scotland, and show that collective action, based on justice and compassion, can create solutions. For the campaign’s 10th year, the Poverty Alliance has announced different themes for each day of the campaign week, which we believe offer the perfect opportunity to spotlight the efforts of the third sector:
- Monday 2nd October: Communities & Volunteers
- Tuesday 3rd October: Housing
- Wednesday 4th October: Adequate Incomes
- Thursday 5th October: Transport
- Friday 6th October: Food
- Saturday 7th October and Sunday 8th October: Reflection
Wednesday 4th October: Adequate Incomes
Today’s theme, Adequate Incomes, is where CPW focuses on creating a Scotland where we all have enough to live a decent and dignified life, with income being such a large part of how poverty operates. The third sector is one of the main proponents of this in Scotland, through approaches such as the Real Living Wage and Community Wealth Building (in Falkirk, CVS Falkirk co-Chairs the local Community Wealth Building Partnership, and the Empowering Communities Working Group).
The sector also dedicates a significant amount of support to helping people maximise their incomes, particularly through Citizens Advice Bureaux (CABs) and Credit Unions.
Our spotlight today looks at these services locally, particularly Falkirk District Credit Union and the CABs across the district.
Falkirk District Credit Union (FDCU)
FDCU is “a co-operative financial institution, owned and controlled by the members who use its services”. They challenge poverty every day by providing “a safe, convenient place for members to save money and to get loans and other financial services at reasonable rates”.
Their mission is:
“To promote the financial wellbeing of our community by offering ethical financial products and services at affordable rates that meet members’ individual needs in a friendly and professional manner.”
They have a number of key services people can access once they are members, including:
- Penny Wise Junior Accounts: an account for children of any age designed to help them develop saving habits early in life, with no minimum deposit, which can be opened by parents or relatives on behalf of the child.
- PayPoint: a free PayPoint card for members to use to pay into their Credit Union account, allowing people to more conveniently pay their household bills, top up their phone, and make other payments in cash, at local shops where they live.
- Free Savings and Loan Insurance: also known as Death Benefit Insurance (DBI), this unique service is offered by some Credit Unions, including FDCU, to help pay for end of life expenses, available for people aged 16 – 79 years old. This insurance covers savings and loans, ensuring that on your death and once a full death certificate has been provided, your loan will be repaid in full and in addition 150% of your savings will be paid to the nominated beneficiary.
They also offer their members services around loans, savings and online banking.
For further information (including how to become a member, or a volunteer), please visit their website (linked for your convenience), or contact them by phone: 01324 473695, or email: office@falkirkcreditunion.co.uk
CABs in Falkirk District
Citizens Advice Bureaux across Falkirk District challenge poverty by supporting and advising people on their money situation or making complaints about faulty goods, along with specific services detailed below:
- Falkirk CAB and Denny CAB: support with tax credits
- Grangemouth and Bo’ness CAB: support around welfare benefits
CABs aim to give people clarity and a positive way to move forward; their trained advisers have vast experience in offering advice and guidance when it’s needed most.
The main Citizens Advice Scotland website (linked for your convenience) also has a number of support options available, including:
- help with cost of living
- popular scams and how to avoid them
- how to use your smart electricity meter
- help for those affected by domestic abuse
For further information on any of Falkirk District’s CAB branches, including how to access support or get involved as a volunteer, please use the following contact details:
- Falkirk CAB – phone: 01324 626070, email: bureau@falkirkcab.casonline.org.uk
- Grangemouth and Bo’ness CAB – phone: 01324 666935, email: advice@grangemouthcab.casonline.org.uk
- Denny CAB – phone: 01324 832118 or 01324 826063, email: bureau@dennycab.casonline.org.uk
- Citizens Advice Scotland national helpline: 0800 028 1456
Leave a Reply