"Because while a lot us think the most important thing is that you're safe, your children are safe and you're out of that situation, why should a woman be financially punished for what her abuser did?" - Robyn Moffat-Wall
In this episode, we speak with Robyn Moffat-Wall from Financially Included. Financially Included is a new project that started earlier this year in Glasgow to bridge the gap between financial advice services and women support services to ensure that women who are fleeing an abusive relationship get the financial advice they need to help minimise the impact that this abuse may have on their future.
1. What is economic abuse?
Economic abuse involves the control of money and finances, and things that money can buy. It is legally recognised as a form of domestic abuse and can include exerting control over income, spending, bank accounts, bills and borrowing. It can also include controlling access to and use of things like transport and technology, which allows us to work and stay connected, as well as property and daily essentials like food and clothing. In fact, 1 in 6 women in the UK has experienced economic abuse by a current or former partner.
2. What do Financially Included do?
There is currently no guidance on how people working in the financial advice sector should deal with economic abuse. Therefore, Financially Included was set up to be the first agency to provide specific bespoke advice about economic abuse in the UK, including direct person to person services. Robyn works in a small team of four, including two financial advisors, and together they will be training financial advisors on how to deal with these cases including early identification and joined up referrals. They will also be looking to get creditors on board with their work too.
3. Advice for starting a new project from scratch
Sadly, there isn't a lot of research on economic abuse, so part of Robyn's role is to become as much of an expert as she can. She explains the best thing that's helped her is 'just to ask', asking to read other's work and have a meeting to get as much knowledge as she can. She's found people are always eager to tell you about their work.
She also says to 'give it time'. She found that coming from front line services into this role that she couldn't adjust to the slower pace and but what she's learned is to give it time and to always allow yourself time to think.
This episode of Charity Chat has been brought to you by our platinum sponsor Work for Good. Work for Good believes everyone should be able to turn the work they do into good. Through their fundraising platform, they offer charities a way to engage and work with small businesses, including founders, owners and sole traders who want to make an impact for charities through their sales. To find out more, please visit workforgood.co.uk.
We hope you enjoy this week’s episode.
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