The implementation of the new drop-in service started in February 2025 has been successful and we have seen an increase in numbers from our 24/25 report from 2935 to 3490 in 25/26. The achievement also shows that clients are presenting several issues each, reporting an increase from 9,498 in 24/25 to 13,631. Identifying £658,079 income. Showing that not only have we supported more clients in the Borough in the last year, but each client presenting with more complex and multiple issues.
In addition to our service, our money advice alone dealt with 391 clients achieving a financial outcome of £3,236,576.
We have successfully secured a 3-year grant from Bexley Council which has remained at the same level as previous years. Although an unexpected increase in rent will occur in the next 3 years. Bexley Council have kindly increased our funding by £5k for the coming year to cover this increase. They have also agreed to continue the payments for the Thamesmead Advice Hub which we attend.
Alison submitted a bid for a grant of £20,000 from National Lottery which was successful. We have recruited a part time Money Advice Administrator, they are working with our money advisor to support clients with debt.
We are also in talks with Bexley Council to secure further funding from the new Government Crisis Resilience Fund which would secure 2 new paid positions and the existing Money Adviser post. The fund has been given to local authorities for 3 years, this is a completely new type of funding, so the contract Bexley Council are looking at would just initially be or a year but likely to be extended.
Trussell Trust Funding was secured until October 2026 we are unsure if this will continue after 2026 as Trussell Trust only funded 6 months of the Foodbank project, Avery Hill Trust have guaranteed to fund for the remaining 6 months if further funding cannot be found.
The Trust for London funding was not renewed due to changes in the projects they would fund.
We are still actively part of Pan London, who are going through some changes, they have been successful in some bids with GLA who stated the Boroughs they would help Bexley was not one of them. Currently they are writing bids for MaPs (Money Advice) and HMPS (Prison Service) funding this funding will not be available until 26/27 they are large multi-million contracts but there is also strong competition for these.
We have not yet been told what our fees will be for the coming year they are very unlikely to be lower.
Work on the revised business plan; new initiatives we have:
We had an IT policy review which has delivered:
- New computers for staff and volunteers, we are still in process of upgrading some computers
- Our website has been redesigned and upgraded giving a much more user-friendly experience.
We are also in the process of becoming cyber essentials plus certificated.
We have now a new telephone system which is up and running and apart from some minor glitches is working well.
We have booked an away afternoon for team building for all staff, volunteers and trustees.
We were contacted by Daniel Francis to attend at his surgeries for a month promoting pension credit.