Press Release
10th November 2008
Making Money Easier
On 26 November, national learning disability charity United Response will be launching "Making Money Easier" – a set of printed and online guides designed to make banking more accessible and easier to understand. Guest speakers at the launch event include Alan Johnson, secretary of state for health.
The event will be held on Wednesday, 26 November, 4.30-6pm, Institute of Directors, London and has been kindly sponsored by HSBC.
In the current economic climate, building financial capability has never been more important. That includes building financial knowledge and awareness amongst the 1m people with learning disabilities in England who are often effectively excluded from mainstream financial services by a lack of simple, accessible financial information.
This is important because people with learning disabilities have significant spending power, especially as more and more are supported – through individual budgets - to manage their own money, live in their own property and pay directly for the services they receive. However, real financial independence and choice can only be made possible if people with learning disabilities are able to access the range of financial services which others take for granted, and are given the information to avoid going into debt.
To bridge the gap, national disability charity United Response has been working with the umbrella body ARC and funders including the Friends Provident Foundation, the Now Let’s Talk Money Campaign and HSBC to create a range of brand new accessible resources under the banner "Making Money Easier".
Available in print and online, the resources are aimed primarily at people with learning disabilities and their supporters. However, feedback has already shown that they would also be invaluable to people with lower levels of literacy, those without English as a first language, young people learning about banking and indeed anyone who struggles with their finances. Ultimately, we believe that everyone will benefit from easier financial information.
The launch, hosted by United Response's president, Martyn Lewis CBE, and featuring keynote speakers including the Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Health, will be held on Wednesday 26 November, 4.30-6pm at the Waterloo Room, Institute of Directors, 116 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5ED.
Attendance is free of charge but places are strictly limited.
To book your place please contact Pauline Spiers either by email at pauline.spiers@unitedresponse.org.uk or by calling 020 8246 5208. You will then be sent an official invitation and joining instructions.
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For more information please contact Sarah Bartlett or Jaime Gill in the United Response Press Office on020 8246 5237/ 020 8246 5122 or emailsarah.bartlett@unitedresponse.org.uk or jaime.gill@unitedresponse.org.uk
Note to editors:
United Response is a national charity that works with people with learning disabilities or mental health needs – including some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
We provide everything from 24 hour care to a few hours of support a week. United Response is community based, working in many localities across England and Wales.
Our mission is to support people with learning disabilities or mental health needs to take control of their lives. We design our care and support around each person and work with them to achieve real inclusion, independence and citizenship for all. We support people across the whole spectrum of learning disability and mental health and have developed a range of specialisms in working with people with the most complex needs, particularly person-centred active support.
We are working towards a society where people with learning disabilities or mental health needs are equal participants and have access to the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
We have won several awards for our pioneering work and for being a top employer. In 2007 alone, we were highly commended by the Charity Awards for our “Good To Great” approach to providing support, while the Charity Times named us one of the best six charities to work for in the UK. We are experts in the development of accessible communications.
United Response was founded in 1973 by chief executive Su Sayer. We are a top 100 charity, supporting more than 1,500 people throughout the UK at any one time and employing more than 2,000 staff.