A new free money advice and wellbeing support service for Epsom & Ewell residents is available from 2 October 2023. The Financial and Wellbeing Support Service (FWSS) will be delivered by Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell for expert benefits and money advice (CAEE) and the mental health charity Mary Frances Trust (MFT) for specialist wellbeing support.

If managing your finances is causing stress and anxiety or mental health challenges are impacting your ability to manage your finances, the three-year project funded by the National Lottery Community Fund will provide a range of free services and resources to help residents to get help during this difficult time.

The aim of the project is to empower the client, and:

• Increase financial resilience and independence

• Improve overall mental and/or emotional wellbeing

• Reduce stress and anxiety

• Increase engagement with local community and reduce social isolation

• Be more informed about how to manage finances and wellbeing going forward.

Patrick Wolter, CEO, Mary Frances Trust, said: “With CAEE and MFT working so closely together, the client only has one point of contact to help them get the full support they need. We are thrilled to offer this free service to the residents of Epsom and Ewell.”

Lisa Davis, CEO, Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell said: “So many people are feeling stressed about their financial situation, which leads to poor mental health. Or indeed suffering from poor mental health can lead to difficulty in coping with finances. This new self-referral service is an integrated approach to support both of those situations.

How to access the service:

• If you need support to tackle both financial and emotional/mental wellbeing difficulties; and
• live in or around the Epsom & Ewell Borough and are 18+ years

then please get in touch with either organisation (no need to contact both). No third party referral is required. Case Workers from CAEE and MFT will support you to improve your situation and emotional wellbeing via face-to-face, telephone or online appointments.

Mary Frances Trust:

Email: fwss@maryfrancestrust.org.uk

Telephone / SMS: 07380 567708

Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell

Email: fwss@caee.org.uk

Tel: 01372 300421

www.caee.org.uk

A similar service called “Financial and Wellbeing Support Service – Surrey Heath” also exists for residents of Surrey Heath. It is part of the same project funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and delivered by partner organisations Citizens Advice Surrey Heath (money and benefit advice) and Catalyst Support (wellbeing support).

To find out more or access the Surrey Heath service, please contact either organisation directly:

Citizens Advice Surrey Heath

Email: FWSS@ca-sh.org.uk

Tel/SMS: 07719 362300

Catalyst

Email: fwss@catalystsupport.org.uk