Money Advice Project
Our Money Advice Project works with clients to help them cope with financial difficulties that might be impacting on their mental well-being.
This service is led by Liz McTear, who has significant experience dealing with debt problems. Her role – and that of her team - is to advise and support people who, for whatever reason, find themselves in financial difficulty. The cases dealt with range from one single debt through to representation at Bankruptcy. The team also liaise with creditors and make arrangements for debt repayments which are affordable to clients. When doing this, the clients’ interests are always paramount. After having negotiated mutually agreeable repayments, clients are encouraged to keep to the budget that has been agreed and, importantly, inform the Money Advice Team of any changes in their financial circumstances.
Some clients have been with us for two years or more, and others are just passing through. The service is open to people with mental health problems from all areas of Wirral, whether they are in employment or in receipt of benefits.
The important thing to remember if you do find yourself in debt is DON’T PANIC and SEEK HELP AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY. The debts will not go away by themselves but, with the correct advice, can be dealt with – thereby reducing the worry, stress and anxiety that you may be experiencing.
It is also important that people DO NOT BORROW MONEY TO PAY OFF AN EXISTING DEBT. This will only make the problem worse as people will be burdening themselves with one debt to pay off another.
We will soon be updating this site, and hope to give you some tips and hints on how to avoid debts.
For more information on Money Advice Project, please contact
Liz McTear on 0151 650 1530
or
e-mail elizabeth.mctear@aiw.org.uk
http://www.aiw.org.uk/debt.html
Phoenix is the editor of this site and was diagnosed with bipolar twenty years ago. In between 7 periods of illness and hospitalisation she trained as a garden designer and was a awarded an RHS Diploma, gained a first class degree in Cultural Studies and a Certificate in Education that enables her to lecture in Recovery in Mental Health to psychiatric nurse students and mental health professionals at 3 universities.
Phoenix has not been in hospital now for 5 years which she attributes to embracing Wellness Recovery Action Planning and all aspects of Recovery. She also will be delivering WRAP sessions in local communities for the Health and Wellbeing project and eventually help train all the community mental health teams and nurses in practice. In the last year she has also become a stand-up comedian which she believes has been the final key to her own recovery. Laughter truly is the best medicine! 
