MAPS Leadership Visits Nottingham to Discuss Financial Wellbeing and Launch New Campaign

On a recent regional visit to Nottingham, key members of the Money and Pensions Service (MAPS) leadership team, including Chief Executive Oliver Morley, Non-Executive Director Simon Hamilton, and Deputy Head of Corporate Strategy Kirsty Bowman-Vaughan, joined local leaders at Loxley House for a day of collaboration and strategic discussions. The visit was organised by Regional Manager Paul Rhodes and aimed to spotlight the financial challenges faced by Nottingham residents while exploring innovative solutions to improve financial wellbeing.

The day began with Emma Bates, NFRP lead, presenting an overview of the Nottingham Financial Resilience Partnership (NFRP) and the financial pressures impacting local communities. The session set the tone for a dynamic agenda centred around partnership and practical initiatives.

Paul Street from the Just Finance Foundation provided insights into fostering financial wellbeing in schools, underlining the importance of embedding healthy financial habits early. Representatives from Nottingham City Public Health, Helen Johnston and Dave McDonald, joined to discuss the broader public health challenges tied to financial resilience and the critical role community support plays in addressing these issues.

Later, the focus shifted to financial inclusion, with Teresa Manning of Clockwise Credit Union and Jason Eaves of Notts and Lincs Credit Union addressing the challenges and opportunities facing credit unions in Nottingham. Their discussion highlighted the need for accessible and community-driven financial services to meet the needs of underserved populations.

The visit concluded with a major announcement from the NFRP team. Emma Bates and Sophie Williamson introduced the upcoming NFRP Behaviour Change Campaign, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. The campaign, launching in January, will leverage behaviour change theories to encourage Nottingham residents to take proactive steps toward financial stability. The message, will be prominently displayed on city buses and a high-traffic billboard to normalise conversations about money with friends, family, and professionals.

With the combined efforts of MAPS, NFRP, and local organisations, this visit underscored a shared commitment to empowering Nottingham residents to achieve greater financial confidence and resilience.