Financial Health in Hard Times: Key issues Christa Brown, Louise Bowden, Bryn Cooper-Mostyn, Joanna de Groot, Paul Sanderson and David Walker
Event details
Managing money and financial wellbeing is increasingly tough in these austere inflationary times. From food prices to mortgages, cost of living problems loom large even for those who never expected to face such difficulties.
Our panel draws on the experience and expertise of organisations that work with York people on debt and financial issues to explore the current situation and problems in this area. The huge recent rise in doorstep lending, and the number of children in poverty, as well as the rapidly growing number of those seeking debt and financial advice from Citizens Advice York (CAY) show that York people face serious problems.
The event will highlight the pressures on those in financial difficulty in the York area - which is often seen as very comfortable and affluent - and on those who support and advise them. Collectively, the panel will share ideas about tackling debt and financial exclusion, and explore the power of a partnership approach.
Our speakers are from the CAY debt team which deals with debt recovery; from the Yorkshire Building Society referral service which advises those with mortgage issues; from GamCare which works with people facing gambling problems; and from City of York Council. Hear about the speakers’ work and experiences, and join in the discussion as we seek to understand key issues and reflect on how to work with those facing financial difficulties.
Citizens Advice York
Citizens Advice York (CAY) is an independent local charity affiliated with the national organisation Citizens Advice. We offer free, confidential, and impartial advice on a wide range of issues including benefits and tax credits, debt, housing, family law, employment and much more. Find out more about Citizens Advice York.
About the speakers
Christa Brown leads debt work at Citizens Advice York (CAY). She has worked in the advice sector for many years covering both debt and housing law and has been a full-time debt worker for CAY for the last five years. She is a member of the Institute of Money Advisors with experience and knowledge in debt work and involvement in many complex cases.
David Walker is currently Head of Customer & Exchequer Services at City of York Council. He has broad local government experience and manages Customer and Revenue Services at the council including Welfare Support. He has most recently been involved in cost-of-living work including delivering Household Support Schemes (HSF) for the council, working closely with third sector partners. Immediately before this he was responsible for delivering Government pandemic support of over £200m to residents and businesses.
Paul Sanderson is Income Manager at City of York Council involved in work on Council Tax and Household Support.
Louise Bowden and Bryn Cooper-Mostyn work for GamCare.
Joanna de Groot has been Chair of Trustees of Citizens Advice York since 2022 and has lengthy experience advising on personal and employment issues at the University of York.
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