Month-long series of events set to help University of the Highlands and Islands Inverness students with debt and financial issues helped by Christians Against Poverty, Citizens Advice Scotland and other bodies
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UHI Inverness is set to launch a month-long series of events aimed at helping cash-strapped students better manage their finances.
With budgets tight for many undergraduates, Money May will bring information and support to help prepare them for the financial demands of the new academic year as well as the remainder of the final term and summer.
As part of the campaign, UHI Inverness has also signed up to the Dignity First Commitment with Money Advice Scotland as a pledge to challenge the stigma and language around debt and financial advice.
That stigma is known to deter people from accessing help.
Money May, catering for both students and the wider community, will run throughout the month and will feature workshops and visits from local organisations.
Christians Against Poverty and the Highland Council’s Welfare Team will visit the Inverness campus on Wednesday, May 8 from 10am to 2pm to advise students on what help they can provide.
UHI Inverness has also linked up with Citizens Advice Scotland to provide guidance on financial issues.
Students can contact the Student Support Team for more details.
The team has also set up an online bulletin board for money-saving tips, accessed here: Money May - Discounts and Money Saving Tips (padlet.com).
The Dignity First Commitment encourages organisations providing financial advice to support Money Advice Scotland’s mission to silence stigma surrounding money and debt and reduce the individual’s fear of judgement.
It aims to reshape the narrative around money and debt and promote empathy and understanding, breaking down barriers that prevent people from seeking support.
By signing up, UHI Inverness says it is committing to promote dignity and respect in all financial communications and “engage in a collective effort to make conversational change to end the use of stigmatising language”.
Laurie Symon, of the student support team, said: “As the academic year draws to a close and college students prepare for the summer break and the upcoming year of studies, we feel it is essential to help equip them with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate their finances effectively.
“Money May will offer a diverse range of resources and activities designed to address the unique financial challenges facing students.
“We understand that managing finances can be daunting and Money May is our commitment to provide students with the support and resources they need to help them budget effectively.”
Money May will be launched next week with a video and other promotional materials.
