Debt Free Advice

We had the pleasure of hosting Zoe Burns-Shore Jaspal Kaur Monica Kaur from the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) and their partner Merlie Calvert 🐸 Farillio at Toynbee Hall. They were given a tour of our historic site, while showcasing how we're making a difference in the lives of people across London. They listened in on client calls, met with our expert debt advice team and our amazing customer care staff, all while learning more about the tailored debt support we provide to help clients regain control of their finances. Together, we're committed to improving financial wellbeing and creating real change. We’re excited for what the future holds!

Absolutely thrilled to share that our Video Advice Kiosks have just won ‘Best Service Delivery Innovation’ at the Third Sector Awards 2024! For those hearing about them for the first time, our Video Advice Kiosks are all about making free, expert debt advice accessible to more people. They’re located across London in places like libraries, community centres, NHS hospitals, and prisons, allowing people to connect face-to-face with advisors at the touch of a button. I was lucky enough to be celebrating with Vanessa our brilliant Customer Care Manager, and Kay, one of our fantastic Advice Managers – both have been key to making this service such a success. A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us, especially our amazing team at Toynbee Hall and Debt Free Advice. If you’re interested in learning more, check out https://lnkd.in/eCiWR96v.. Happy Friday, everyone! 🙌 #ThirdSectorAwards #DebtFreeAdvice #ServiceInnovation #VideoAdvice #FridayFeeling #FinancialSupport

Great to see Sumaiya celebrating her first year with us at Toynbee Hall. It's been fantastic to watch her journey from trainee to qualified debt adviser, helping so many people regain control of their finances with compassion and dedication. We’re lucky to have such a committed and talented individual on our team! As we continue to expand our advice services, we're always on the lookout for more passionate people like Sumaiya to join us. If you're interested, check out our latest vacancies on the Toynbee Hall website at https://lnkd.in/eA-hGaHe

Delighted to share that we have formed a partnership with We Are Group, and The Kaleidoscope Plus Group to deliver the Money and Pensions Service’s Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space (MHCBS) service - a debt respite scheme offering protection for people receiving mental health crisis treatment, throughout England. This collaboration represents a significant opportunity to extend Toynbee Hall's deep expertise in delivering critical financial support to those who need it most across England. Together, we are committed to ensuring that individuals facing financial challenges, especially those experiencing a mental health crisis, receive the guidance and protection they deserve. We look forward to bringing our shared vision to life and making a meaningful impact on people’s lives. Through this collaboration, MHCBS will continue to make a tangible difference in people's lives, offering a much-needed "breathing space" and providing essential support for those facing simultaneous mental health and financial crises. Read more information about our new partnership here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eUigy7WX

🙏 Wishing everyone a fantastic #BankHolidayWeekend! Take this time to relax and recharge. Please note that our customer service line will be closed on Monday, August 27th. 💻 In the meantime, visit debtfreeadvice.com to learn how we can support you.

Recent racist and violent attacks against our communities across the UK are deeply alarming and unacceptable. Debt Free Advice stands resolutely against this wave of hatred and violence. We condemn these vile acts targeting Muslim, refugee, and ethnic minority groups. As a coalition of charities dedicated to providing free and impartial debt advice to those in need, we are deeply concerned about the potential disruptions to our partner organisations and the communities we serve. We take immense pride in our diverse staff team, which brings a wealth of perspectives and experiences to our work, reflecting the communities we support. The targeted attacks on Citizens Advice and similar organisations represent a significant threat to the essential services that vulnerable populations rely on, and we will continue to stand firm in our mission to provide inclusive and accessible support to everyone in need. We want to assure you of our commitment to safety and service: Safety First: The safety of our staff, volunteers, and clients is our utmost priority. We are implementing enhanced security measures across our service locations and collaborating with local authorities to ensure a safe environment for all. We will not compromise on the well-being of those who work for us or those we serve. Continuity of Support: Despite the challenges we face, our resolve to provide uninterrupted support to those grappling with financial difficulties is stronger than ever. Our face-to-face service remains our primary mode of support, offering personalised assistance and guidance in a secure environment. Additionally, we provide a video advice service as an alternative for those who prefer receiving help from the comfort of their homes. Community Engagement: We are actively engaging with community leaders and organisations to address the concerns and needs of those affected. Together, we are stronger, and together, we will overcome these challenges. Our communities deserve nothing less. Now more than ever, we urge all community members to come together in solidarity against hate and violence. Let us focus on building a society that values diversity and inclusivity, where everyone feels safe and supported.  Debt Free Advice remains steadfast in our mission to support individuals and families in overcoming financial adversity. We are here to help, and we will continue to do so with compassion and dedication. Your financial wellbeing is our priority, and we are committed to standing by your side every step of the way. For assistance or to learn more about our services, please visit our website at www.debtfreeadvice.com or contact us directly on 0800 808 5700. Our dedicated team is available from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

Matt Dronfield, Managing Director of Debt Free Advice, recently joined Zak and Emma from the Money Mondays Life After Prison podcast by the Prison Radio Association to discuss our innovative Video Advice Kiosks installed in various London prisons. Debt Free Advice has launched the UK's first video advice kiosk at HMP Brixton, and the programme is being rolled out to other prisons in London. The Video Advice Kiosks provides those in prisons with free, impartial debt advice, helping to relieve financial pressures. Listen to the Money Mondays podcast through the links below to learn more about how we are making debt advice accessible to everyone. Apple: https://lnkd.in/eTPPS5Nc   Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eN5dFqvc   Amazon Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eUA5gC-s 

Yesterday, Toynbee Hall had the pleasure of hosting a delegation from the Credit Counseling and Recovery Service (CCRS) of South Korea, including Da-Young Lee and Jong-In Huh. This visit was an excellent opportunity to showcase our Debt Free Advice service and engage in insightful discussions about the differences and similarities in our approaches to debt counseling. During the morning, the Korean delegation met some of our debt advisors at our Advice Hub and interacted with members of our Customer Care Team. They also visited two of our video advice kiosks at the Stratford Job Centre Plus and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Town Hall, seeing first-hand how we efficiently support clients into debt advice through these innovative solutions. This meeting is part of our ongoing commitment following the formation of the Global Credit Counseling Alliance a few months back. The alliance, which includes leading organisations from Canada, South Korea, the UK, and the US, aims to foster international cooperation and share best practices in debt advice and financial education. In the evening, we attended the UK-Korea Financial Forum at Carpenters' Hall, hosted by the Financial Services Commission of Korea and the Council on International Financial Cooperation (CIFC). The event featured welcoming remarks by Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, Lord Mayor of the @City of London. The forum was a remarkable platform to discuss the latest developments in financial infrastructure and regulatory practices between the two nations. I was particularly interested in the session on Technological Innovations in Finance, which covered topics like achievements and challenges of open banking in Korea, DX-based business models for challenger banks, and digital data-based alternative credit scoring. These discussions provided valuable insights into how technology is shaping the future of finance. A big thank you to Da-Young Lee, Jong-In Huh, and the entire CCRS team for their visit and the invaluable exchange of insights. Also, our gratitude to the Financial Services Commission of Korea, the Council on International Financial Cooperation, and the Z/Yen Group Limited for organising such an impactful forum. We look forward to continued collaboration and learning as part of the Global Credit Counseling Alliance, making a global impact on financial education and debt advice.

Twice a year, we have the privilege of bringing all our colleagues and partners from across Debt Free Advice together. Over 100 of us gathered in the historic lecture hall at Toynbee Hall to mark the halfway point of the calendar year. Here’s what we achieved since January and the exciting updates we shared: 🔸 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀: We’ve provided free and impartial advice to over 5,387 individuals struggling with problem debt, making them collectively £6,508,237 better off. 🔸 𝟱-𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀: Celebrating the milestone of reaching 2,000 reviews on Trustpilot, we shared some of the heartwarming feedback from those we’ve helped. 🔸 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Sharaf hosted a fireside chat with Peter, who, after a relationship breakdown, faced £32k in debt. Thanks to the exceptional support from Shabania, Peter is now on a much better financial path. 🔸 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: Necla, our Head of Quality & Compliance, provided a crucial regulatory update, keeping us informed and compliant. 🔸 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆: Casey and I demonstrated some groundbreaking tech that will be available to our advisors in the next quarter: ‣ Trustfolio 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Instant access to credit reports in our CRM. ‣ 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: Streamlining the exploration stage of our customers’ journeys. ‣ 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗲: Our AI assistant, helping advisors access the information they need swiftly. At Debt Free Advice, we believe that the quality of our advice is only as good as the training and support we provide to our team. In the afternoon, we conducted essential training sessions for our front-line staff, including: ‣ Vulnerable Clients: Spotting the Signs provided by PayPlan ‣ Council Tax Reduction provided by the Institute of Money Advisers ‣ Towards Happier, Healthier Lives - a wellbeing session delivered by Natasha from Thrive LDN A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to this incredible event. Together, we are making a tangible difference in people’s lives and continuously improving how we support those in need. #DebtFreeAdvice #TeamWork #Innovation #CustomerSupport #FinancialInclusion #Training #Wellbeing Mary Ward Legal Centre South West London Law Centres Nucleus Legal Advice Centre Citizens Advice Westminster Citizens Advice Sutton Citizens Advice Waltham Forest Citizens Advice Lewisham Bromley Citizens Advice Bureaux Limited Citizens Advice Brent Citizens Advice Hammersmith & Fulham RCJ Advice

We have reached 2,000 reviews on Trustpilot! 🎉🎉🎉 We want to thank everyone who has left a review, your feedback means so much to our team and helps us deliver the highest quality debt advice to those in need. If you have used our free debt advice and would like to leave a review, please visit the Trustpilot website!