Money Buddies: helping transform lives

Our partnership with Money Buddies has been transformational for some of our clients. Money Buddies provide free, confidential and impartial advice and guidance to anyone who visits the Community Cafe in Tadcaster every Wednesday or Wetherby every Friday morning. They are experts in making sure people are getting all the financial help they are entitled to – such as accessing benefits, debt advice, making sure you are on the correct utilities tariff plus much more.

We don’t always get to hear the good news stories about individual clients. Often, the help given by our resident Money Buddies expert means they don’t need to use us any more so they just stop coming to the Foodbank, never to be seen (by us!) again.

Recently, however, we had some great news from one of our clients in Tadcaster. This is just one example of how Money Buddies are actively helping people from our area:

The couple were really struggling with money. The wife is the carer for her husband and also has health issues. She came along to chat to our Money Buddies expert at the Tadcaster Community Cafe who suggested she applied for PIP which she did with the support of CAB, who helped with the form. Last month she received £3754 as back payment. Every month she will now receive £600 pcm. She’s paid off her utility debt and still has some savings left over.
She can’t believe it! 

She was initially worried about telling us her brilliant news as she thought it would mean she wouldn’t be able to come along to the Community Cafe any more or get help from the foodbank in the future if she ever needed to. In fact, the Community Cafes in Tadcaster and Wetherby are there for everyone. You don’t have to be a foodbank client to come along for a free cuppa and a chat – or to get help from Money Buddies or any of the community groups who attend. We are there too, for anyone who finds they’re struggling to afford the essentials, whether they’ve had help from us in the past or not.

So if you fancy a free cuppa, a few biscuits and a chat, why not come along? We’d love to see you and Money Buddies are always there to help with any money worries you may have.

Tadcaster: The Barn Community Centre, Weds 10am till Midday

Wetherby: Barleyfields Community Centre, Fri 10am till Midday