A new initiative to combat financial insecurity and boost employment for Gloucestershire’s most vulnerable has launched in Stroud.
A groundbreaking initiative aiming to tackle financial insecurity and pave the way to employment for Gloucestershire’s most vulnerable unemployed people has been launched in the Stroud area. Quids in! Money Guidance (Glos), a three-year project spearheaded by Clean Slate Training & Employment and funded by the Barnwood Trust, promises to improve financial wellbeing and resilience among participants while addressing the barriers that prevent them from securing sustainable work.
This hybrid service—delivered both face-to-face at community venues in Stroud and Cirencester and remotely through Clean Slate’s Virtual Support Hub—offers personalised financial guidance to people in need. The programme focuses on clearing financial blockages that hinder progress, helping participants maximise their income, cut unnecessary spending, and access vital specialist services such as debt or housing advice. With the added support of professional, friendly staff, Quids in! provides a crucial lifeline for those struggling to make ends meet.
The innovative programme is built on a simple yet profound principle: when money worries dominate, planning for the future becomes impossible. For those facing financial hardship, anxiety about basic needs like food and rent often crowds out long-term thinking. By reducing this burden, Quids in! seeks to create emotional space for participants to focus on health management, training, and ultimately, re-entering the workforce.
Employment Support and Peer Worker Training
One of the programme’s most distinctive features is its peer support component. Participants who engage with the service and attend a ‘7 Signs’ jobseekers’ session are invited to join Clean Slate’s Elements programme, a 12-week paid work experience opportunity. These individuals, having navigated similar challenges, are uniquely equipped to support new participants in accessing the programme’s resources. Alongside this work experience, participants receive accredited training in peer-to-peer mental health support, as well as professional standards training developed by Clean Slate to support peers in becoming support workers or healthcare workers of the future, enhancing both individual and community resilience.
“Peer support is at the heart of what we do,” explains Clean Slate’s Head of Programmes, Emmie Jenkins-Hill. “By involving participants in delivering the service, we’re not only empowering them but also fostering a sense of community ownership. It’s a win-win for individuals and the local area. We absolutely recognise the importance of not only local knowledge, but also what it’s like to struggle financially. Expertise, built through lived experience.”
Quids in! aims to support around 400 people during its three-year run, with paid work experience opportunities for up to 50 unemployed individuals. The programme is particularly focused on assisting those with long-term health conditions and disabilities, addressing an often-overlooked group in the employment market. Although Clean Slate aims to grow throughout the county, working with new partners who share our approach to levelling the playing field for people facing barriers to employment.
Community venues across Stroud have already been established as key touchpoints for the service. Those seeking support can visit Kids Stuff in Brimscombe Mills on Wednesday mornings, the Welcome Table Café at St Hilda’s Hall on the first and third Thursday mornings, or Cashes Green Community Centre on Friday afternoons. Additionally, the Virtual Support Hub ensures that help is accessible to anyone, regardless of their location.
Local residents facing financial hardship are encouraged to get in touch by visiting Clean Slate’s website or contacting the team directly via email at [email protected] or by phone on 01453 796050.
