Managing Your Money

Financial Inclusion Commitment

To help support our customers we have developed a Financial Inclusion Commitment to try to ensure that none of our tenants are excluded from the full range of financial services that are available.  Our commitment, and the steps we have taken to meet this commitment are shown below.

We will take a whole organisation approach by

Having a strategy in place with a clear action plan for it’s delivery updated annually	The Income Management strategy and action plan which incorporates financial inclusion is available here|
Fully engaging front line income staff in delivering the strategy including providing them with training	All income staff are set targets based on the strategy and are given appropriate training

We will promote access to welfare rights and money advice by

Providing all new tenants with a financial health check, ensuring they are claiming the benefits they are due and identifying any money problems	New, and existing tenants are able to complete a financial health check which is also available here|
Offering all tenants, but particularly those who are vulnerable, access to welfare rights advice	We have a full-time Advisor available to provide benefits and welfare rights advice.  The Advisor can be contacted through Freephone 0800 195 5552
Providing all tenants with the opportunity to access money advice from independent advice agencies	Independent advice is available from the Citizens Advice Bureau| (CAB)and we have an arrangement with them where we can provide you with a letter of introduction

We will improve access to financial products by

Providing financial and promotional support to credit unions offering affordable loans and quality savings products	We are leading on the introduction of a credit union in Sutton in Autumn 2009. More information is available here|
Offering affordable home contents insurance with the ability to pay the premiums with rent	The London Borough of Sutton offer affordable home contents insurance which is payable alongside rent. More information is available here|
Partnering with banks to improve access to basic banking services including basic bank accounts	We are able to assist tenants who wish to to set up a basic bank account with a number of local banks

We will tackle fuel poverty by

Providing ready access to up to date information on the cheapest energy suppliers

Information about efficient use of energy and the latest news on tariffs available can be found at EnergySavingAdvice.co.uk|

We will improve financial capability by

Supporting the development of initiatives to improve tenant financial capability

We are working with the London Borough of Sutton, the CAB and Age Concern to improve tenant financial capability.  We have jointly produced a leaflet covering some of the basics which is available here|