Can you help people in debt? Additional volunteers required.

Money Lifeline wants to recruit additional volunteers to work with people facing debt crises in Basingstoke.

As the pandemic restrictions reduce, we are seeing more and more people seeking help and advice because of overwhelming debt. Money Lifeline offers free and friendly advice to help people address their debts but we would like to expand our capacity to deal with the increased demand for debt advice.

Our friends at the Basingstoke Foodbank share our concerns and have kindly volunteered to sponsor the training of additional volunteers.

If you are interested in this work, please contact us at [email protected] to find out more.

Debt advisers are responsible for giving budgeting and debt advice and offering practical assistance in accordance with the Christian ethos of ML. A debt adviser is expected to be: a committed Christian, a good listener, compassionate, and able to explain information simply and clearly.

We are looking for people who can commit to a regular weekday involvement. Experience is not necessary as full training will be provided but you would need to be computer literate, and have a reasonable command of basic arithmetic and business English. Advisers normally work in pairs to provide support and continuity.

The role is not for everyone. It involves dealing with distressed individuals – as well as debt collectors and creditors. It can be frustrating and demanding. There is significant paperwork, computer work and telephone calls required to address a client’s situation and implement the right solution. But it is rewarding: here are some recent comments from clients –

‘Money Lifeline have turned my life around, I cannot thank them enough’

‘Words cannot express how grateful I am for everything ML have done for me’

‘Without the help I received, I honestly do not know where I would be today’

‘Money Lifeline have been more than supportive, recommend to anyone’

‘I was surprised that I wasn’t judged, as I thought I might have been. I’ve found the advice and support very helpful and useful’

‘A wonderful service’

‘Fantastic support, amazing people, great help, understanding, no judgement – without their help I would not have gone from sobbing my heart out to how I am today’

If this is something you think would be right for you or if you want to know more, please get in touch by emailing [email protected] Thank you.

Watch anytime: 8.00 pm until midnight on 11, 12, 13 May

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Anxiety levels and poor mental health are on the rise in children and young people, and as a parent this can feel overwhelming … even at times debilitating. But there’s good news! You, as parents, have incredible power to help your children build strong emotional resilience and a healthy mental wellbeing.

This hour-long event will look at the unique opportunities and pressures facing young people today (including the COVID-19 pandemic) and explore the science of the mind, and why children act and react the way they do. We’ll consider whether this generation is less resilient or whether there really is an epidemic of anxiety.

Katharine Hill and Dr Rob Waller will share practical and preventative tools to see your children through the difficult times, as well as build resilience to guard against anxiety and depression.

Watch anytime: 8.00 pm until midnight on 6 May, 11 June, 7 July

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Putting time aside to invest in our relationships can be a challenge – there always seems to be something else vying for our time and attention. We may have jobs, be parents or carers, finances might be tight or babysitters unavailable, and there are probably a whole host of other responsibilities we need to give ourselves to. But there’s no denying spending quality time together is vital to the health of our relationship.

Well, Date Night in a Box sets couples up to win! This event is everything you need to connect, communicate and commit to setting new sparks alight. Along with engaging content streamed directly into your home, you’ll get a mystery box* of goodies delivered to your door, including activities to do together (both during and after the event).

There are three opportunities to catch this unique event and only one hour of your time is required, so there really are no excuses! Pick a date, stick it in your diary and enjoy a – hopefully – undisturbed evening of ‘us time’!

With the help of volunteers from churches and the community, Basingstoke Foodbank continues to reach out to people in need throughout the region.  Over double the number of people were fed in 2020 compared to 2019, and during the Spring of 2020 almost four times as many people per month were fed than usual.  On average we have been feeding between 700 – 1000 people monthly and distributing on average over 8 tonnes of fresh and non-perishable food every month.

The Covid pandemic has had a notable impact on the people of Basingstoke & Deane.  According to our referral agencies, people’s incomes have been affected by such reasons as job loss, reduced furlough income, domestic violence, increased food and energy bills, debt and sickness. Our volunteers work tirelessly to keep up with the increase in demand. We continue to deliver to people’s homes, so we have increased our delivery & collections driver team throughout the pandemic.  Also, we’ve ‘grown’ a ‘Caller team’ who phone clients to provide a compassionate listening service in the absence of being able to sit and chat to clients in the Centre over a cuppa.

We passionately believe that in addition to feeding people, our clients should be linked with specific local agencies who can offer support to alleviate some of their many challenges, be they financial, physical, emotional, and circumstantial.  Long term food insecurity can lead to additional problems such as depression, anxiety, ill health and stress.

We have received an increase in generous financial donations from the community which has meant that the Foodbank has been able to buy additional fresh food, and non-perishable food when shortages occur. This year we are planning for some exciting new development initiatives once lockdown is over, including:  operating the Foodbank from several community focused churches in the area, plus the provision of access in our new locations to debt support, money advice, job clubs and mental health signposting.  Watch for further news to come!

Phil Thomas

Chair of Trustees

www.basingstoke.foodbank.org.uk