Our financial capability courses aim to increase the knowledge and confidence of your service-users to help them manage their money effectively and to take responsibility for their personal financial decisions. We are also able to provide courses for frontline workers to help them recognise the signs of financial difficulty in order to help support clients through the appropriate debt remedy.

1. Financial Capability
Course Information
Caerphilly & Blaenau Gwent Citizens Advice Bureau
Bargoed CAB, 41b Hanbury Road, Bargoed CF81 8QU Tel: 01443 835363

2. Our Courses
Our financial capability courses aim to increase the knowledge and
confidence of your service-users to help them manage their money effectively
and to take responsibility for their personal financial decisions.
We are also able to provide courses for frontline workers to help them
recognise the signs of financial difficulty in order to help support clients
through the appropriate debt remedy.
What key skills help a person become ‘financially capable’?
A number of money management skills are required to help a person become
financially capable including:
 being able to make ends meet and keep track of finances
 to be able to plan ahead
 to be able to choose appropriate financial products
 having the ability to stay informed of financial matters
Why CAB?
For over 70 years we have provided the highest quality advice to local
residents through our dedicated team of staff and volunteers.
Our experienced and knowledgeable trainers have been delivering Financial
Capability courses throughout the Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent areas for
over eight years and, have experienced first-hand, the difficulties that low
financial capability and financial exclusion can bring to households and
communities alike.

3. The following courses can be tailored to suit the needs of
clients or individual groups
Workwise
An interactive course designed to help clients understand how wages are paid and the
concept of tax, National Insurance and in-work benefits such as Working Tax Credit and
Universal Credit, including practical sessions on checking wage slips, understanding bank
statements and avoiding bank charges. Clients are also made aware of their basic rights
as an employee including the entitlement to the National Minimum Wage. The course
benefits those new to the world of work as well as helping ease the transition from life on
benefits to paid employment.
Where does my money go? – budgeting for beginners
A practical session to help clients keep track of their finances and make ends meet.
 Sharing knowledge and tools to help clients deal with weekly budgeting and
unexpected domestic crisis
 Introduces the concept of saving and planning ahead to improve their economic
wellbeing
Budgeting for Welfare Reform
A course aimed at making people aware of benefit changes:
 Replacement of Council Tax benefit with Council Tax reduction schemes
 Removal of the spare room subsidy and introduction of under-occupancy
 Introduction of Universal Credit
The practical session helps clients prioritise their household bills and spending, realise the
consequences of not paying bills, keep track of their finances and make ends meet as well
as planning for future changes in their benefit entitlement. Budgeting tools and tips for
saving and spending reinforces the concept of saving and planning ahead to improve their
economic wellbeing.
The true cost of credit
An interactive session focussing on developing skills required to enable clients to choose
financial products that are right for them. Being aware of the true cost of credit and the
various forms available gives clients the confidence to seek affordable sources of credit
and helps to change patterns of previous borrowing behaviour. Credit reference agencies,
data protection and credit scoring is also covered.

4. Savvy shopper – consumer awareness
A practical session with practical shopping tips and the truth about supermarket offers,
promotion and advertising. Advice on how and where to get free items and discounts help
clients to budget more easily and be proactive in money management. The course also
covers the distance selling rules of on-line shopping and general consumer rights.
Education, training and next steps
A practical course aimed at people interested in further and higher education. The session
aims to equip future students with the ability to source financial assistance to cover the
cost of fees and living expenses. Budgeting, credit and banking is elements are included to
give participants the tools to live independently and take advantage of what being a
student has to offer, such as discounts and tailored bank accounts.
Financial capability for frontline workers
The aim of this course is to increase participants’ confidence and ability to engage with
clients with money management and providing support to clients seeking further advice.
By the end of the session participants will be able to:
 Describe attitudes and assumptions about clients and money
 List some common banking problems and identify strategies for dealing with them
 Identify advantages of budgeting and saving
 Identify the pros and cons of different types of credit
 Distinguish between priority and non-priority debts
 Support people, including effective referral for advice
 Identify strategies and skills to engage people

5. Our aims:
 To provide the advice people need for the problems they face
 To improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives
Our principles
The Citizens Advice service provides free, independent, confidential and
impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. We value
diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination.
Contact us
Bargoed CAB
41b Hanbury Road
Bargoed CF81 8QU
Email: ingramjonesd@caerphillycab.org.uk
channingj@caerphillycab.org.uk
Tel: 01443 835363 ext. 241
Produced by Citizens Advice
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Caerphilly & Blaenau Gwent Citizens Advice Bureau
Registered charity number 1084045