Standard Life Charitable Trust and Shelter Scotland partner to help more people across Scotland in need of housing and money advice
5 July 2011
The Standard Life Charitable Trust is to fund a new full-time money adviser on the Shelter Scotland helpline at a time when tens of thousands of people in Scotland are struggling to manage their money and keep a roof over their heads.
The year-long initiative will enable the housing and homelessness charity to provide even more struggling householders in Scotland with vital advice and support. The Standard Life Charitable Trust is also to fund a further two advisers on the charity’s helpline in England. Helpline advisors deal on a daily basis with people who need help on a range of issues – from debt and rent and mortgage arrears to eviction and repossession.
Recent research by Shelter and Shelter Scotland showed that more than one in ten (11%) people in the UK face a constant struggle to pay their rent or mortgage and 37% now say high housing costs are the cause of stress and depression in their families. With high unemployment, cost of living increases and the possibility of a rise in interest rates ahead, more and more people are turning to the charity for help to manage their finances and stay afloat.
Last year, the Shelter Scotland helpline received more than 19,000 calls.
Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said:
“In these uncertain economic times many people are struggling to make ends meet and more and more are coming to Shelter Scotland for help. Thanks to this donation from the Standard Life Charitable Trust we will be able to reach even more people. Our advisers can stop things from spiralling out of control, help people get back on their feet and prevent homelessness.”
Baroness McDonagh, Chair of the Standard Life Charitable Trust said:
“The Standard Life Charitable Trust is focused on supporting groups who could benefit most from help and advice to improve their financial capability. We are delighted our donation will fund additional Shelter advisers so they can help more people who are at risk of losing their home, many of whom are experiencing severe financial problems.”
Ends/
Notes to Editors
1. Shelter Scotland last year received around 19,000 calls to its helpline. The funding means it will be able to deploy one extra full-time advisor with the capacity to advise and help hundreds more people. And with the cost of dealing with each case of homelessness conservatively estimated at £5,000, through funding just one advisor, the Standard Life Charitable Trust donation has the potential to help save hundreds of thousands of pounds in Scotland alone.
2. The Standard Life Charitable Trust (SLCT) is an independent charity established by Standard Life in 2009. The trust is a separate organisation from Standard Life Plc, with its own constitution and Board of Trustees. It is funded by the Unclaimed Assets Trust (UAT), which was set up to hold any cash or shares which went unclaimed following Standard Life’s demutualisation.
The vision of the trust is to benefit society by building capability and supporting independence and it is currently focused on supporting people most in need of developing skills to manage their finances including lone/single parents, armed forces, young offenders and young people.
3. Shelter Scotland, the housing and homelessness charity. Shelter Scotland believes that everyone should have a home. We help people find and keep a home. We campaign for decent housing for all.
4. Spokespeople are available for interview, telephone the media office on 0844 515 2442
5. For more information about Shelter Scotland visit www.shelter.org.uk
