I am often alerted to news about valuable Lottery initiatives. The latest is a major £30 million initiative to help some of the country's most financially vulnerable people in social housing, including in Gateshead, get a better grip on their finances.
We are going through a period of great economic stress. You know that I am deeply critical of government policies that make things worse but we should find ways of helping people cope better with it as well as encouraging better government policies.
The main problem is a growing gap between those who can call on financial products, services and good quality advice and those who are excluded.
If people don't have bank accounts, contents insurance, credit cards or affordable loans they can be prey for high-cost doorstep lenders and falling into a debt spiral.
Obviously the best solution is good and well-paid jobs but in the meantime people need some assistance in acquiring the skills and confidence to choose, access and use financial services that best suit their individual needs.
The Improving Financial Confidence project will mobilise Lottery grants of £500,000 to £1 million for voluntary sector partnerships.
Applications for this are now open and close on 16 September 2011. Any interested organisations which could design projects to reach out to the financially excluded should visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk for more information.
Such schemes can help people stand on their own two feet. But there are times when some people are unable to do so and need a sympathetic response from the state which their hard work and taxes have funded for such eventualities.
This is why there was such uproar in last week's Prime Minister's Questions over proposals to axe welfare benefits for people who have survived cancer but still need support as they get themselves back into work.
It was clear that David Cameron hadn't been listening to neutral voices in the cancer charity sector who had been warning that about 7,000 cancer sufferers would lose nearly £100 a week if they savings above a certain level or a partner earning just £600 a month.
The PM was caught out and I certainly hope that he can find the grace to reverse this cruel approach.
Newcastle Chronicle and Journal
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