In 2007, members of the Bristol Financial Inclusion Taskforce (including the Credit Union, debt advice agencies, the local authority, social landlords and a few banks) debated how to compete with high interest and illegal lenders targeting the poorest in the city. ‘We don’t have the resources,’ they said. Among that group, however, was a former managing director of The Big Issue and he was already drawing on his experience of the power of self-help and the written word.
In 2008, the Social Publishing Project (SPP) was born and Quids in! magazine was launched. It set out to engage communities targeted by loan sharks, suffering limited access to free and appropriate financial services, and paying the premium of being poor. It assumed a social enterprise approach, selling Quids in! to landlords and authorities across the UK who distributed it free to tenants and residents. By 2014, the publication was reaching 300,000 households. Beyond the quarterly edition, the brand also carried a range of new, targeted products to help customers help householders manage life-changing events (such as a new home), understand welfare reform (eg, Universal Credit), and make more informed choices (like saying no to payday loans). In 2016, we published our first book, I’m Ready – 7 signs that show you’re right for the job. In 2018, we launched our first Quids In-branded training programme called The 3 Bs, which introduces communities to the importance of appropriate banking, good budgeting and being online – essential for avoiding the pitfalls while transferring to Universal Credit, for example.
In 2020 SPP merged with Clean Slate Training & Employment and SPP rebranded as Quids in! Pro. The combined offer consists of online support and guidance, printed materials and one-to-one support at Quids In Centres.
Since the financial crash, and the coronavirus pandemic our remit has broadened. We need to guide readers through having less money to manage. Recognising communities are too often talked about but never listened to, we established a research role, sharing findings with partners and stakeholders around the UK. We now run a professional network to share intelligence and good practice and offers training and consultancy services to partners supporting people through cuts to their income, adjusting to new life circumstances or requiring new skills to improve the quality of their lives.
Digital
In the past few years, the Social Publishing Project has developed its digital output in response to our customers’ needs. As more content goes online, we have not wanted to leave anyone behind, recognising high levels of digital exclusion among low income households. Not only do we now have a money email service (the Quids In Readers Club) and increasing social media to carry our financial advice content, we are constantly reviewing how to encourage individuals to get online. ‘Being online’ is one of the ‘3 Bs’, the focus of our new training programme and all our products supporting low income households, especially those moving onto Universal Credit.
