Financial Wellbeing
When thinking ‘Caring Costs’, it’s natural to immediately consider the cost implications of providing unpaid care.
Citizens Advice Gateshead:
Did you know that Citizens Advice Gateshead have been helping Gateshead Health colleagues to identify and access suitable welfare and in-work benefits?
Between April and June 2022, their advisors helped no less than five Gateshead colleagues to access an average additional income of £2658.00.
All Gateshead Health colleagues can access priority support from Citizens Advice Gateshead. This can be accessed via drop-in sessions taking place on-site every Wednesday, or via our priority email address and helpline. To find out more, just visit our dedicated webpage.
Support Groups:
Other organisations with a fantastic awareness of the financial support available to working carers are dedicated support groups and centres for carers.
In addition to a knowledge of what financial support you may be eligible for, many local centres also offer grants which might be useful for those in financial hardship.
To find out more about these groups, please visit our new carer support group page.
Gateshead Health offer:
We know the current economic climate isn’t particularly friendly for colleagues, and our working carers are no exception.
One way we’ve looked to support those experiencing financial hardship is through the recent introduction of the Leg-Up Project, providing colleagues with access to vouchers to access hot meals at work. To find out more about this initiative and how to access confidentially through Chaplaincy or Health and Wellbeing, visit our recent news item.
We also to aim to support your financial wellbeing through the promotion of a number of partnerships we’re engaged in. Included amongst this are discount partners which provide you with access to reduced prices at retailers; staff benefits which provide you with access to savings through things like salary sacrifices; our groceries page which promotes exclusive NHS savings clubs at supermarkets including Morrisons and ASDA; and a financial support page outlining grants which you may also be eligible for. Elsewhere, there is advice on energy usage as we enter winter.
We’d also encourage you to log-in to ESR and view your Total Reward Statement – providing you with a full overview of the benefits and offers available to you all in one place.