More than 1,200 people have benefited from free courses to improve their emotional relationship with money and learn skills for every day money management.
Enable East, an independent NHS team which operates as part of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), delivered financial wellbeing workshops as part of the national Multiply adult numeracy programme.
Tailored workshops were delivered to 1,001 local residents in community settings, 175 patients receiving care at seven of EPUT’s mental health inpatient wards, and 62 people detained at Chelmsford Prison.
EPUT was the first Trust in the east of England to receive funding to offer the course in mental health inpatient wards.
The overall aim of the financial wellbeing workshops was to address the wider issues that affect people’s health and wellbeing and to reduce health inequalities.
Research has shown there is a strong link between money worries and poor mental health, and the courses aimed to help people feel more confident and in control of their money.
Topics covered included budgeting, creating positive relationships with money, and managing income-related anxiety. All participants were offered a one-to-one session to support them with their specific circumstances.
Multiply Inpatient Facilitator Avril Bishop, who delivered the inpatient course to people in seven wards between April 2024 and March 2025, said: “Our sessions have helped individuals build financial confidence, access critical benefits, and prepare for independent living post-discharge.
“Multiply has been more than just a financial literacy initiative.
“It has been a lifeline for many individuals, proving that financial education is a crucial part of mental health recovery.”
Her colleague Kitty O’Brien said: “We were constantly inspired by the people we were supporting and each other’s ideas.
“Every ward we visited felt special in its own way, and seeing the difference Multiply made to people’s confidence, hope, and financial wellbeing was genuinely rewarding. It’s been a privilege to be part of something so meaningful.”
Kitty and Avril helped patients apply for benefits and grants, resolve debt and banking issues, and apply for jobs.
They also identified and escalated financial safeguarding concerns, ensuring vulnerable patients were protected from exploitation.
Patients have given positive feedback.
John said: “I am good at words but not maths. I can’t do fractions but they explained it to me easily.
“I thought it would be exams and sitting tests but it wasn’t, it was very relaxed, which made it easy for us.”
Ian, another participant, said the course was “really well put together, is very useful and informative”.
“Both Kitty and Avril deliver the course very well and have very good interpersonal skills,” he added.
And Kristen said: “I really enjoyed talking to Kitty and Avril, they really understand how we felt.”
The Money and Me programme delivered at Chelmsford Prison ran from October 2024 to 31 March 2025. Many of those who took part shared how growing up in poverty and difficult environments had influenced their habits and attitudes to money.
Feedback included “I find it hard to communicate myself, about myself, this has allowed a small release” and “I feel I have a better grip on my finances and wellbeing”.
Financial wellbeing courses were also delivered to residents across Essex. Charities, community and voluntary groups were invited to host courses for their clients.
These included refuges, homeless charities, housing organisations, community hubs, family centres, groups for parents of children with special educational needs and groups for people from minority ethnic communities.
A mum from Basildon who attended a course organised in partnership with the charity Basildon Parents4Parents said: “I found it very helpful to understand more on how my wellbeing affects my spending and tools to help improve my wellbeing. I liked how I have links and websites to visit if I need.”
She has since been using the skills she has learned to help towards her goals of budgeting, paying off debts and meal planning.
Enable East received £343,506 in funding from Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council to run the Multiply courses fromJanuary 2023 to March 2025.
It was one of a number of organisations involved in delivering the wider Multiply in Essex programme which ended on 31 March this year.
Enable East is now working on launching its next project, an employment support programme to help people aged 16 to 30 into work in health care jobs. It is being funded by the King’s Trust, a charity that helps young people from disadvantaged communities and those facing adversity to build confidence and skills.