Issues relating your finances
It can be hard to know where to turn when there is a specific issue affecting your finances, or when being short of money makes things difficult.
Help is available - within the Trust and from specialist organisations.
Accommodation, housing and homelessness
As a large employer, we may have some staff who are at risk of becoming homeless. If you're in this position, please contact the Inclusion team. The team can talk you through our bespoke pathway of support for staff in this situation.
Email: Inclusion@uhb.nhs.uk
For a comprehensive list of organisations which can help with issues relating to housing and homelessness, please see The Waiting Room website.
Addiction
We know for some people, the reason they are experiencing financial problems is because of addiction. There are many local organisations who can offer help and support with addiction.
For a comprehensive list of all organisations, please see The Waiting Room website.
Food and clothing
We know times are hard for many people, and sometimes people feel they have to sacrifice essentials like food and clothing to make ends meet.
Speak to our wellbeing officers or wellbeing hubs staff to learn about staff access to food banks or clothing.
Email: wellbeing@uhb.nhs.uk
Gambling
BeGambleAware provides information and advice to help keep people safe from gambling harm.
The National Gambling Helpline is available 24/7 for free, confidential advice and help. For contact details, including a live chat feature, please see their website.
Illegal money lending (loan sharks)
A Loan Shark is someone who lends money without the correct permissions. These permissions are granted by the Financial Conduct Authority. Loan Sharks rarely, if ever, give any paperwork and if payments are missed, they often use intimidation and violence to get money from their 'clients'.
Illegal Money Lending is a notoriously well-hidden and under-reported crime. Harassment, intimidation, blackmail, assault and threats are very common. As the debt is illegal, it cannot be enforced through the court system and so the loan shark will often resort to such behaviour, or threats of such behaviour, in order to try and get their money back.
The Illegal Money Lending Team is here to help. If you have any information, however small, on loan shark activities we can help.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Have you been offered a cash loan?
- Have you been threatened when you couldn't pay?
- Has your bank card been taken from you as a security?
- Does what you owe keep growing even though you are making payments?
If you can answer yes to any of the above, then you may have been bitten by a loan shark.
If you, or anyone you know, is experiencing any of the above or has any knowledge of loan shark activities then contact the Illegal Money Lending Team:
Lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To report illegal money lending activities, visit the website:
Mortgages and renting
We are able to signpost to a number of organisations who can support staff who may be struggling to make regular payments, staff who need to look for new housing, or those who may be at imminent risk of losing their accommodation. To find out more, visit the Trust’s intranet. From the homepage, click the ‘Equality and Diversity’ tab, followed by ‘Staff inclusion and diversity’, and finally ‘Advice and Support’. Then select ‘Accommodation and homeless advice and guidance’ from the drop-down list. If you are at imminent risk of becoming homeless, please contact the Inclusion team as soon as possible.
Those claiming Housing Benefit can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment from their council if the benefit doesn’t cover their rent. For more information, visit:
If you are a private tenant not in receipt of benefits, Shelter is the best point of contact if you’re behind on rent: