College helps local people to manage their money

Makund Patel - progressing to Retail Level 1 Award, Andrea White - progressing to Health and Social Care Level 1 Award, Tracy Butler – tutor, Arif Khan - progressing to Retail Level 1 Award and Julie McDonagh - progressing to IT. All live within the Borough of Rochdale and are currently unemployed, up skilling to enhance their job opportunities within the sectors that they are looking for employment in

Hopwood Hall College has been helping local people to gain skills in managing their money more effectively, helping them to prepare for massive changes ahead in the benefits system.

Learners who join their BTEC Level 1 Workskills programme cover subjects on how to manage their money and how to manage other people's money.

The College has been running the course since January, after identifying the need for the course when the Government announced the ‘Universal Credit’.

The new system will affect many local people who are either on low income or unemployed and therefore receive some benefits.

Universal Credit means big changes ahead for people claiming benefits from April 2013 with the national rollout due in October 2013. The government says the idea is that Universal Credit will help ensure that claimants will be financially better off in work. In return for receiving financial support, out of work claimants, depending on their circumstances, must look for work, or take steps towards it. This may include preparing a CV, attending training courses, applying for suggested vacancies or registering with a recruitment agency.

Universal Credit has been designed so that claimants can personally manage their claim directly through an online account. So, as part of the course, the College has ensured that learners gain the IT the skills required to claim benefits on line and also to access bank accounts on line, too.

The money management programme assists people to calculate their benefits in different ways. It also enhances their saving opportunities, enabling them to look at banking with Credit Unions and stay away from potentially dangerous loan sharks.

Learners that have attended the course are more confident in managing their money. For example, learner Makund Patel said: “The money management course has hugely benefitted me, because I have learned how to budget my finances and keep control of my expenditure. It will enable me to cope with the Universal Credit reforms.”

Another learner, Julie McDonagh said: “The money management course has helped me to improve my skills and awareness of budgeting and planning for the changes that Universal Credit will bring.”

Andrea Whyte also said: “Attending this money management course has taught me how to manage my money better and learn about the benefits of saving, too.”