Financial support
We know how much money worries and stress can affect your wellbeing.
Here at LSCFT we offer access to support to help you take control when it comes to money matters.
Below is a list of the help available.
You can also find out more about saving money on the staff benefits page.
Salary Finance
There for you when you need it, Salary Finance offer Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Trust colleagues employee benefits designed to help you take control and reduce money worries, all year round, via the Salary Finance app.
The app makes it simple to access and manage all your Salary Finance benefits in one place, giving you control and support whenever you need it.
Your Salary Finance benefits
Borrow: Affordable loans repaid through salary, with a price promise on loans under £5,000 - if you get a better rate, Salary Finance will match it. Representative Rate 13.9% APR (fixed).
Learn: A free online toolkit with tips and resources to manage money better - from guidance on how to improve your credit score to content on how to start an emergency fund, it’s all in one place.
Download the Salary Finance app today or explore your options on the Salary Finance hub.
Important: This is an option, not a recommendation. Your employer does not benefit from offering this service and all your communications will be with Salary Finance. Loan applications will be assessed to ensure the loan is appropriate and affordable for you. “Learn” content is for guidance and educational purposes only and is generic in nature. Salary Finance does not offer regulated financial advice. Please seek independent financial advice.
Affordable loans – Payroll Pay
As part of the staff benefits offered through Vivup, you can access a range of educational resources and debt consolidation.
These can be repaid direct from your salary.
Using Vivup, you can also buy home and electronic items – including tech - in a budget-friendly way.
Using Payroll Pay®, you can spread the cost of your items through manageable monthly salary reductions with no credit checks.
NHS Credit Union
Like all credit unions, the NHS Credit Union is a financial co-operative, owned and controlled by its members.
The Union helps care for the financial health of members and almost 20,000 NHS workers are currently enjoying the benefits of being an NHS Credit Union member.
Its mission is to promote financial wellbeing and a savings culture in the NHS industry alongside reducing financial stress in staff and providing ethical financial assistance to those who need it.
Credit unions
A credit union is a financial co-operative which provides savings, loans and a range of services to its members.
All credit unions offer savings accounts and loans and some run one or more branch or service points to offer a face to face cash service.
To become a member you need to call or visit your chosen union and need to share a ‘common bond’ with other members.
Gambling Charter
Working with Unite the Union, LSCFT is the first NHS organisation to sign a new Workplace Charter – a commitment to supporting employees and their family members who may be experiencing harm as a result of gambling.
We work with the Beacon Counselling Trust to provide specialist support to anyone who feels that gambling is having a negative impact on their life or family.
Employee Assist Programme (EAP)
Please know, we also offer an Employee Assist Programme (EAP) to all those working for LSCft.
An EAP is a confidential employee benefit to help you deal with personal and professional problems that could be affecting your home or work life or both as well as your health and general wellbeing.
Our EAP is provided by Health Assured.
They offer a helpline which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Please ring: 0800 028 0199.
Through the helpline you can access:
• Ad-hoc emotional support
• Formal counselling – either face-to-face or telephone sessions
• Online video counselling and CBT
To access support, please use the username ‘Lancashire’ and password: ‘Care’.
Food banks
Food banks are community organisations that are designed to provide short-term emergency support with food. You’ll usually need to get a referral to a food bank before you can use it.
A good place to ask for a referral is your nearest Citizens Advice however, you can also ask for a referral from organisations such as charities, schools, children’s centres or your local council.
Money Helper
If you’re struggling with debt Money Helper provides information on free advice services available across the UK to find help in the best way for you.
Household Support Fund
Provided by the Department for Work and Pensions to support those in need, the fund runs from 6th October 2021 until 30th September 2022. The fund can be used to help towards the cost of food, energy or water bills and wider essentials such as bills and housing costs.
To access support in Lancashire contact your district council here.
To access support in Cumbria call 0800 783 1966 (9am – 3pm).
Turn2us
Support to access welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help. Their website includes a benefits calculator, grants search database, information on welfare benefits, charitable grants and managing money.
Further contacts and information
Money Helper are offering independent impartial advice to NHS staff through a variety of means:
NHS Staff Support Line
Call: 08004480826. Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.
Whatsapp: add +447701342744 and send the Money Helper service’s national support team a message
Webchat: chat to one of the team via their online portal.
Membership dependent links that might you may be able to access financial support via:
Serve and Protect
Supporting your financial wellbeing with serve and protect. We are pleased to share information about Serve and Protect, a not-for-profit organisation committed to supporting the financial wellbeing of employees and their families across the police, prison, military, fire, and national health services.
Their mission is simple: to make saving and borrowing easy, secure, and accessible with the added convenience of salary deduction repayments.
As a member of these vital services, you and your family can access a range of benefits, including:
Savings accounts – Start building your financial future with flexible savings options.
Loans – Affordable, tailored loans to support your financial goals.
Webinars – Stay informed with expert-led sessions on financial wellbeing.
Blues and Two's
Here to help you save, and there when you need to borrow.
Staff can sign up on the Blues and Twos website below.
No need to do anything further as Blues and Twos send the payroll deductions to payroll directly.
