This year, we made significant strides in empowering low-income communities and combating financial hardship by building on our core areas—money guidance, employment support, and digital inclusion. Through new partnerships, expanded services, and innovative initiatives, we’ve laid a strong foundation for continued impact, positioning us for an even more transformative year ahead.
At the heart of our work is a commitment to meeting people where they are, offering tailored and sustainable support. A key part of this approach has been the Quids in! Professional Network, which has fostered collaboration among organizations to support low-income households and improve policies and frontline services.
Reflecting on our achievements in 2024, we’re inspired to build on this momentum and continue helping people in hardship become more than better off in 2025!
January: Tenancy Sustainment Webinar
This January, we hosted the Firm Foundations Webinar in partnership with the Money Guiders Wales Network (which was oversubscribed) and then again with the Money Guiders England Network, focusing on practical strategies for helping those we support to manage housing costs. These standout sessions featured Jeff Mitchell, Managing Director of Clean Slate, who shared key warning signs of serious financial challenges, providing actionable insights to empower communities. This webinar played a vital role in strengthening the Quids In! Professional Network, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional development. Read more.
February: Health Inequalities
In February, we launched our first health inequalities pilot, funded by the Mayor of London and supported by Thrive LDN, to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of low-income residents in South London.
The results of our three week 1:1 money coaching programmes were outstanding: 67% of participants felt more confident managing their money, 83% saw improvements in their mental health and self-esteem, and 100% felt better equipped to find healthier, more affordable ways to eat.
This pilot was a significant step in our work on health inequalities and laid the foundation for future initiatives focused on improving both financial and health outcomes. Read more.
March: Digital Innovation
March saw a major milestone as we celebrated receiving the prestigious Innovate UK Award, recognising businesses driving life-changing innovations. The £50,000 grant supported the expansion of our flagship Future-Proof Finance Quiz across the fields of employment, Type-2 diabetes and financial planning for later life.
The toolkit of quizzes helps people on low incomes improve job prospects, reduce the risk of Type-2 diabetes, and plan for retirement on a tight budget. Designed for those with limited digital skills, it offers 25 simple yes-or-no questions with instant, tailored responses and resources, building confidence in using online tools and exploring the digital world. Read more.
April: Money Guidance for Tenants
In April, we published our Impact Report highlighting our successful partnership with social landlords like Stonewater Housing to provide virtual money coaching to tenants via our Virtual Support Hub.
Tenants completing our 6-week programme saw average financial gains of £1,328. In addition we tracked significant non-financial improvements: confidence in making money last increased by 152%, ability to find help grew by 119%, and those free from or addressing debt and arrears rose from 52% to 85%.
Our money guidance support works upstream in the preventative space, ultimately reducing rent arrears and evictions. Read more.
May: Community Support
In May, we proudly received a Delivery Partner Award from Poplar HARCA and The Hill Group, recognising the positive impact of our Quids in! Drop-In at the Teviot Centre. Local community settings offer invaluable opportunities for in-person support to improve financial wellbeing.
At the centre, residents also benefit from our Digipods, an IT service which provides practical help with tasks like setting up email accounts or accessing online resources. Read more.
June: Partnerships & Training
June was a month of exciting new partnerships and professional services designed to drive positive change. We kicked off a two-year partnership to tackle fuel poverty in B&NES with The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) and their partnership project Warmer Homes, Advice & Money (WHAM). This collaboration brings us one step further to ensuring that no one has to choose between heating their home and other essential needs. Read more.
We also became an approved signatory of the Digital Poverty Alliance Charter for Digital Inclusion, highlighting our commitment to ensuring everyone can access digital services and the opportunities of the online world.
Additionally, we launched our professional training offer, a series of interactive training workshops aimed at supporting non-financial advisors in health, housing, employment and other roles within the third and public sector. Topics range from supporting people with Universal Credit, to learning how to engage people in hardship, to having the confidence to start a conversation about money. Read more.
July: Social Enterprise Award
July brought exciting news as we celebrated Clean Slate’s fourth consecutive year on the NatWest SE100 list of UK’s most impressive social enterprises.
Being consistently ranked among the UK’s leading social enterprises is a testament to the impact of our work, from empowering individuals to improve their financial wellbeing to collaborating with partners to create lasting change. We’re incredibly proud of this achievement and the difference Clean Slate continues to make in the lives of those who need it most. Read more.
August: Digital Communications
In August, we launched our Ageing Well Quiz, one of our new digital tools developed with the funding from Innovate UK. The quiz offers low-income individuals tailored, accessible guidance to assess their financial wellbeing and plan for the future, while also promoting healthier lifestyles by encouraging exercise, social engagement, and nutritious eating. Read more.
We celebrated the milestone of our 100th newsletter for the Quids in! Readers Club, our monthly mailing service helping people on low incomes spend less, save more, and boost their income. With over 32,000 subscribers, our reach includes individuals who have used our services and tenants from housing partners such as Aster, Manor Estates and Prospect Housing.
September: Drop-In Centres West of England
Big news in September: our Bristol Drop-In Centres scooped funding from the National Lottery Community Fund! This amazing support contributed to the launch of two new Quids in! Centres at the Knowle West Healthy Living Centre and the Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust ‘The Hub.’ Read more.
Also in Gloucestershire, with additional funding from The Good Things Foundation, we were able to continue our support at the Welcome Table Café in Matson. But we didn’t stop there—over the next few months, funding made it possible to revive drop-ins at Stroud District Kids Stuff at Brimscombe Mills and Cashes Green Community Centre, bringing even more support to the region!
October: Employment & Peer Support Training
October marked the launch of an innovative pilot project with Places for People, designed to replicate our peer support business model among social tenants in Bristol.
The project introduces two key initiatives; ‘7 Signs‘ employment training, which helps participants identify skills, build confidence, and set career goals, and Elements, a paid peer support traineeship offering practical experience and guidance to develop workforce skills. Read more.
November: Drop-In Centres London
In November, we made exciting strides by launching four new drop-in centres across London, providing essential in-person and online support to low-income residents in Hackney, Croydon, Lambeth, and Waltham Forest.
With funding from the L&Q Foundation, East End Community Foundation, Hyde Charitable Trust and Lambeth Council, our new locations are already helping residents take control of their financial wellbeing. In addition to the drop-ins, the Hyde Charitable Trust’s funding is also supporting two ‘7 Signs‘ employment workshops in Croydon, designed to help jobseekers boost their confidence and find meaningful work, while the L&Q Foundation is funding a ‘3Bs’ workshop in Leyton, to help local residents with budgeting skills and maximising income.
December: Pension Poverty
As the temperature dropped in December, we ramped up efforts to support older residents facing rising energy costs. In partnership with the Household Support Fund (HSF) Information and Advice Providers, Quids in! magazine launched a new special guide for the over-65s, offering practical advice on how to boost finances, reduce energy costs, and access Pension Credit and local support.
We’re now set to replicate this initiative with other councils, creating bespoke editions to meet the unique needs of their residents and extend the reach of this essential support. Read more.
Looking ahead to 2025, we’re excited to be expanding our services in Gloucestershire for the next three years, thanks to funding from the Barnwood Trust.
We have run numerous ‘3Bs’ and ‘7Signs’ workshops over the past 12 months, with thanks to the Canary Wharf Group, the HAC consortium and other funders, and we will continue to increase the number of workshops we run to meet demand, with seven sessions already planned across Bristol, Bath, Stroud and London in the first quarter of next year.
As ESA claimants transition to Universal Credit in 2025, we are supporting the process with our updated Universal Credit Guide which helps claimants navigate the process and our Advisor Training Programme, equipping frontline staff to assist claimants effectively.
In the new year, we’ll be launching a report from our Quids in! Cost of Living Survey, which will play a crucial role in shaping our service development and policy advocacy. By listening to the voices of those facing financial hardship, we continue our mission to ensure that their needs are heard and acted upon, creating real change for people across the UK.
