FI Project Launch

Exciting news for August 2025

What has felt like ages in chatting, thinking, praying and dreaming is finally upon us. You’ll have heard us talk about our FI Project over the last 18 months.

I’m thrilled to say that our FI Project is in collaboration between ourselves and Advice Space https://www.advicespace.me/ . They are a leading specialist and professional advice giving service (they used to be called Citizen’s Advice Bureau). We will be paying for their professional service via a grant we applied for from Trussell.

FI stands for “Financial Inclusion” and many Trussell foodbanks across the UK (we are the 6^th in NI) are seeking funding to run these projects. These projects are aimed at achieving what’s known as  “Income Maximization” for people, and this is accomplished by running professional advice with benefit checks, supporting and assisting in filling out various benefits forms (online and hard copies) and conducting deeper complex case work on behalf of clients who need professional advice.

Here are some key bullet points on our new advice project:

• The advice will be given by an Advice Space employee
• The name of our new advisor is Michael
• He will be joining our FOH (front of house) operations and be taking appointments from our volunteers for clients needing financial advice while they are in getting food from us.
• His dedicated office will be in 119 University Street in which he will meet and work with clients and conduct further case work.
• He will be based here at 119 between Tuesdays-Thursdays. Monday and Friday he will do casework for clients and perform follow ups etc

Michael and this new endeavour will be part of the very fabric of SBFB – this project is a strategic part of getting to the very core root of people’s problems and ultimately – we hope – helping them generate further income to help them navigate the ongoing rising costs of living and paying the bills.

The ultimate end goal is that those who get help in this way may never need to rely on foodbanks ever again.

We will share results and the impact this project has once it is well and truly underway and embedded into our service.

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