Medway Council has received the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) Money Guiders of the Year Award for its work supporting residents and promoting financial wellbeing.
Money Guiders is a free programme of training for the public service, public benefit, and not-for-profit sectors, which aims to provide staff the core skills, qualities and knowledge needed to be able to provide non-regulated money guidance to residents. There are now more than 130 registered Money Guiders at Medway Council.
The award was formally presented to council officers by Kate Shiner, Executive Direct of Strategy, Policy and Governance and Naomi Phillips, Corporate Director for Partnerships and Engagement, when MaPS visited the council’s Gun Wharf office on Monday, 25 November
During the visit, Medway Council’s Financial Welfare and Benefits and Public Health teams also gave a presentation to the MaPS Executive Leadership team to highlight the work being done to support residents – which included the success of the Money Guiders programme at Medway Council.
During the presentation Medway Council’s Public Health team spoke about the award-winning Medway Health Workplace programme, which helps local businesses support the health and wellbeing of their staff.
Officers highlighted that they were able to signpost businesses to the clear and impartial financial guidance offered through MaPS as part of the programme – helping businesses to support their staff.
Councill officers also spoke about the Workplace Financial Wellbeing Pledge, a pilot scheme from MaPS, which the council recently signed. The pledge is a commitment to continue to support both staff and residents with financial issues and providing clear and accessible signposting to financial assistance and resources.
Medway Council’s goal is to ensure everyone in the community has the support they need with their financial wellbeing.
Help everyone in Medway
Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council, said: “It was brilliant to welcome our guests from MaPS and great to hear about all the work being done to help both residents and staff. It is essential we continue to do everything we can to support people through the ongoing cost of living crisis, and the recent award shows we’re stepping up to the mark, giving our staff across the council the tools and knowledge they need to help everyone in Medway.
“We value the support and recognition we have received from MaPS, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with them to ensure we are providing the right support to everybody in Medway.”
Makes a real difference to people’s lives
Claudine Bell, South East Regional Manager at the Money and Pensions Service, said: “We were delighted to visit Medway Council and present them with the Money Guiders of the Year Award, as part of our Money Guiders programme.
“The Money Guiders programme is the first to support all those who deliver money guidance through wider services and it makes a real difference to people’s lives.
“It was inspiring to hear about the work Medway Council does to support their residents and we offer our congratulations to all those involved on their success.”
Find out more about Money Guiders on the MaPS website.