Communities Fund has provided £1,500 of match funding
Basic Financial Management for Chinese(Trilingual)
Oxford, England, United Kingdom
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Aim
To help disadvantaged non-English-speaking Chinese learn basic management skills to improve their financial wellbeing and quality of life
Our “Basic Financial Management for Chinese (Trilingual) Project” is a continuation of Oxfordshire Chinese Community and Advice Centre (OCCAC)’s role and function as a one-stop shop that provides a lifeline to thousands of disadvantaged Chinese in Oxfordshire, some of them describe themselves as “deaf, dumb and blind” due to their lack of English.
This Project focuses on improving financial wellbeing by supporting the Chinese community with budgeting, saving and planning for the future amidst the cost-of-living crisis and high unemployment which cause many to be pushed further into poverty. Such a predicament is impacting on the everyday life of a significant amount of Chinese within our community, and as a result, are struggling to survive.
Our community urgently needs help with financial advice that will enable them to maximise their resources. This includes advice on benefit take-up, affordable housing, understanding bank accounts and interest rates, to name but a few. Their lack of essential life skills including calculation, and knowledge on what they are entitled to and how to access services means that they miss out on services and benefits they are entitled to.
Added to which, the lack of understanding of the English language further disadvantages them in managing their finances. All of these contribute to poor mental health and wellbeing, leading to depression and anxiety and a feeling of isolation and despondency.
Hence, we endeavour to provide practical, accessible and language (English, Mandarin and Cantonese) support that helps people better manage their finances, access essential services, and for some, enhance their chances of employment through our project. We are confident that by helping people to improve their financial situation, we can enhance both their physical and mental well-being.
We hope to build community resilience and capacity by delivering a holistic and realistic programme through:
- Financial management talks, workshops and training courses to help clients learn basic arithmetic, budgeting and acquire money management skills, like those organised by the CAP (Christians Against Poverty), Samaritan’s Purse and the Money Charity.
- Support with benefits take-up, helping clients understand the requirements and procedures, and assist them with translation, advice and application
- Applications for affordable housing, helping clients find stable/long-term accommodation and access the financial support they are entitled to
- Referrals to food banks for those in immediate need
- Employability workshops to support people into employment, increase their income opportunities, making them economically productive and hence raise their self-esteem, feeling being valued
- Money-saving purchase, helping Chinese who lack English proficiency to identify discounted items by introducing to them the yellow/relevant “too good to waste” food labels.
- Second-hand goods purchase, by introducing and encouraging our members to buy from charity shops, swap shops and boot-sales.
This joined-up approach ensures that we are not just addressing immediate financial pressures, but also helping people build long-term financial resilience, independence and autonomy.
We had the experience of helping many non-English-speaking elderly manage their finances by teaching and translating for them some key phrases/expressions frequently turned up in their correspondences, communications and actual dealings with the bank, understand income from benefits, utilities and rent payments, accompany them to council offices, banks and job centres and interpret for them.
Why we are crowdfunding
We are crowdfunding to meet the growing demand for help in financial management in our community. Many individuals and families are experiencing financial hardship due to rising living costs, insecure housing, limited access to employment and scams. Without support, these challenges can quickly escalate into crisis situations.
In fact, some Chinese in our local community in Oxfordshire lack the essential knowledge and skills to manage their personal finances, largely because of their deficiency in English, basic calculation and book-keeping, and in understanding benefits payment and bank statements and, not to mention, the modern technology like Smart phone and Google Translate.
Many have difficulty in opening a bank account, distinguishing different types of accounts, applying for and managing their benefits, and some are digital illiterates who do not possess or know how to use a Smart phone.
With your support, we will:
- Endeavour to rent an additional room at East Oxford Community Centre where OCCAC is located, and turn it into a safe, supportive, confidential environment where clients will feel comfortable seeking help
- Appoint 2 part-time bilingual/trilingual advice workers/project coordinators (1 FTE) to provide free advice and translation/interpretation within the community
- Organise financial management courses, and budgeting, saving and planning for the future workshops
- Recruit and train volunteers to help clients understand bank statements and benefits payments, and if necessary, accompanying them to banks, Job Centres and benefits office
- Support and help clients maximise their income through benefits, bank interests and employment, and gain the confidence and skills needed to improve their financial situation
- Ensure people who experience financial and fuel poverty, and homelessness can access emergency support such as food banks, baby banks and shelter
- Signpost people as to where they can find discounted bargains, especially food, at the relevant place and time
- Encourage community members to engage in talks, workshops and training in basic financial management skills/tasks/concepts
This project will support people at every stage - from immediate crisis to long-term financial independence.
With the recent granting of a 10-year Lease by Oxford City Council to use a new office at the East Oxford Community Centre (Princes Street, Oxford OX4 1DD) as the base of our operations, we are now in a better position to provide advice and organise relevant training, workshops and talks.
We are confident that our “Basic Financial Management for Chinese (Trilingual) Project” will make a real and lasting difference to people’s lives, by empowering them with the skills, knowledge and support needed to manage their finances more effectively, reduce financial hardship and thereby achieving greater economic security and independence.
How we’ll spend the money raised
We will use the fund raised to deliver this programme effectively to reach those most in need. Main expenses include:
1) Appointing 2 Part-Time Staff, Interpreters/Speakers
2) Organising Training Talks, Workshops and Courses
3) Paying for Rent & Facilities
4) Purchasing Equipment & Materials
5) Paying for Stationery, Telephone & Travelling Expenses
How you can help
There are three simple ways to support our project:
1) Make a donation
Your financial support will help us provide vital financial guidance, practical support (applying for benefits, accessing food banks, preparing and balancing a household budget) and opportunities for people, especially the disadvantaged and non-English-speaking members, in our community.
2) Spread the word
Share our campaign with your network. The more people who hear about us, the more lives we can support/impact.
3) Volunteer with us
If you have skills or experience to offer, we welcome trilingual (English/Mandarin/Cantonese) volunteers to support our workshops and community outreach.
4) Recommend people who may benefit
Help us reach vulnerable individuals and families by referring people who may need financial guidance, language support or practical assistance.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 11th August 2026 at 8:58pm