What we do

Money Advice Scotland is Scotland’s money charity. We exist to help people in debt, support money advisers, and influence policy. Our mission is to be the driving force towards financial wellbeing for the people of Scotland. Our priorities for the next few years are outlined in our strategy.

Supporting money advisers

We’re a membership organisation and provide training, events, and resources to the money advice sector. We aim to ensure that money advisers have a platform to report social policy concerns via our evidence base as well as access to training to ensure they are equipped to carry out their important role. We offer various other types of support for professionals to help advisers thrive at a time when demand for advice is increasing.

Helping people in debt

We believe everyone in debt deserves to be treated fairly. Debt can happen to anyone and we understand how it can affect someone’s life which is why we are always working towards securing fairer practices for people in debt.

Taking the first step towards getting debt help can be dauting and it can be difficult to know where to go for advice, but through our webchat service, our advisers can help answer any initial questions and direct you to free, regulated and impartial debt advice.

To speak to someone confidentially, access our webchat. We also have a range of resources for people going through the debt advice process including debt terms explained, help accessing your income and expenditure report, and benefits calculator.

Influencing policy

We work to be a strong voice for consumers and people in debt in Scotland by identifying detriment and acting on it. By working closely with our members, we can identify causes of harm to consumers at an early stage. We also provide a strong and persuasive voice for the advice sector, ensuring that our members’ views are heard.

Improving financial wellbeing

We also work to help people improve their financial capability by delivering workshops to schools, colleges, and workplaces across Scotland. Find out more about our financial capability work.

Latest

Financial Wellbeing webinar 3: Saving and savings accounts

From ‘Rainy Day Pots’ to ISAs and everything in between; this Financial Wellbeing Webinar will cover the topic of saving and saving accounts. We will discuss the importance of saving, along with some of the different types of products available to help you plan for the future.
Money Works webinar 3: Saving and savings accounts

Savings are crucial for financial security and provide a safety net in case of emergencies. With cost of living increasing at an unprecedented rate, it can be even harder to save - especially during a pandemic. In this Money Works session, we will look at different ways to save and discuss the range of savings accounts available.
New Money Advice Scotland board members appointed

As part of our new governance structure, we have appointed four new independent trustees, including a new Chair.
Online Train the Trainer - Money Coach

The Financial Capability team is hosting an online Money Coach session, aimed at professionals who undertake financial capability work with their clients on a one-to-one basis. The training will help advisers develop new skills to help improve their clients' financial wellbeing and resilience.

Accessibility
Falkirk Council's Standards Support Journey

Through our Standards Support service, we guide organisations through a range of quality assurance standards, including the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers. Kenny Bowie, Senior Debt Advice Officer at Falkirk Council has written a blog on his experience of our Standards Support service.
Coronavirus: dealing with debt and money worries

If you’ve been impacted by coronavirus, whether it’s because you’ve lost some or all of your income, or your household bills have increased, it’s important to know what you can do to help with your debt and money worries.
Coronavirus update 21.5.20

Coronavirus (Scotand) (No 2) Bill explained
Update from our CEO regarding Coronavirus

Read our CEO's update on how Money Advice Scotland is handling the current situation regarding Coronavirus.
Focusing on wellbeing

Recent months have highlighted the importance of looking after mental health and wellbeing, particularly in the workplace. People working in advice may be accustomed to dealing with clients in crisis, but the coronavirus situation brings unprecedented challenges to an already stressful and demanding role. This post launches our wellbeing focus campaign.
Coronavirus update 17.4.20

New FCA measures covering personal loans, credit cards, and overdrafts.
Coronavirus update 2.4.20

A summary of the key updates relating to coronavirus including the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill, and changes to recording in credit reports.
Our new financial capability webinars

Our financial capability team has developed two new series of webinars to help promote financial wellbeing.
Wellbeing round-up

Following our Adviser Perspectives on a Workforce Strategy research, our new wellbeing project will undertake further research to address some of the findings. This blog outlines how advisers can help look after their wellbeing during the pandemic.