Our key achievements

In last year’s annual report we published our aims for 2006/07, the majority of which were successfully delivered. We also delivered many of the other key strands of work that contribute to our 2004–2008 strategic plan. Further details are provided within this

report, however some of the highlights are:

To increase access to advice we:

• increase content on Adviceguide by 20% and upgraded the servers to enhance access speed.

To influence policy makers we:

• campaigned on the impact of fee-charging cash machines on low income households. A Cash machine taskforce comprising industry and consumer group members resulted in improvements in signage, and commitments from banks to install new free to use cash machines in the 600 most deprived areas of the UK

• campaigned on regulation of bailiffs, legal aid reforms, incapacity benefit, the Welfare Reform Bill, and promoted the new laws giving tenants protection of deposits paid to landlords

• saw our Supercomplaint on payment protection insurance, launched in 2005, referred to the Competition Commission and action by the Financial Services Authority to fine a number of companies for poor sales practices.

As part of our new service developments we:

• were awarded new grants of nearly £300,000 for financial capability programmes to enable bureaux to help even more people to learn to budget, save and borrow wisely.

• successfully secured funding for two youth volunteering projects. The projects, funded by the youth volunteering charity v, create new volunteering opportunities within bureaux for 16–25 year olds

• trialled web-based access to consultancy services for bureaux, including equality and employment, consumer, welfare benefits and money advice

• piloted awareness-raising and casework services for people experiencing disability discrimination, in partnership with the Disability Rights Commission.

In addition we:

• won a Charities Aid Foundation Online Accounts Award for our 2004/05 Annual report and accounts

• had a float at EuroPride and stalls at the major prides around England and Wales

• formed a partnership with Metro newspapers and The Royal Bank of Scotland for a six month awareness campaign – Debt Alert.

9%: The per cent of our volunteers and paid staff from BME communities.

8%: The per cent of our volunteers and paid staff who are disabled.

3,300: The number of locations bureaux deliver free advice from, with our support.

39%: The per cent of our volunteers who went on to a paid job or further education.

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