One year birthday celebrations took place yesterday (Thurs 3 Oct) at the Tower Hamlets Homes operated, Financial Health Centre (FHC) in Stepney. The centre brings together a number of community organisations to assist residents with issues impacting on their financial wellbeing.

There are over ten delivery partners, including the likes of Account3, Citizen Advice Bureau, Go-Train, LBTH and Limehouse Project. In its first year of operation, over 2,000 residents have accessed the services, with assistance given to residents to consolidate a total of £450,000 worth of debt and to make benefit applications totalling £1.4million.

Employment and training programmes are offered at the FHC and in the first year a total of 540 residents took part in various types of training and 172 people have been supported into secure employment.

Susmita Sen, Chief Executive of Tower Hamlets Homes, said: “The number of people helped by the FHC in its first year alone show just how vital the services we provide are.  It shows what can be achieved in partnership, when so many organisations from the borough can get together and provide similar services under the same roof.  Our goal for next year is to provide even more help to even more residents.”

Mayor of Tower Hamlets, John Biggs, said: “I’m delighted that over 2,000 of our residents have been helped by the Financial Health Centre in its first year. That means people’s lives changed as they receive the benefits they are entitled to, get on top of their debt problems or are helped into training or employment.  I would urge residents who require support to pay a visit to the centre.”