“"Through our Child Poverty and Early Intervention Fund, more than £200,000 has been invested in this forward-thinking collaboration, with the aim of making it easier for families to access the right help at the right time. Each organisation involved in Money Max has many years of knowledge and experience of working with those living in our communities who most need support. “We hope to make life better for people and improve family wellbeing by breaking down barriers to accessing support locally, offering a one-stop shop approach so residents don’t need to repeat their story to many different organisations and staying with residents from the start of their journey to the end. I would encourage anyone who needs guidance on advocacy, employability, debt or finances to contact the team – you are guaranteed a friendly welcome."
North Ayrshire Launches 'Money Max' Project to Combat Child Poverty
New initiative brings together four organisations to provide integrated financial, employability, and advocacy support for local families.
By Kirsty Lennox
••3 min read
AI
Community members receiving support and guidance at a family-centred project in North Ayrshire.
North Ayrshire Council has launched 'Money Max', a new project aimed at tackling child poverty by providing families with integrated financial, employability, and advocacy support.
A new family-centred project, Money Max, has opened its doors in North Ayrshire, designed to ensure households can access the right financial support to address daily difficulties in wellbeing, home life, and finances. The initiative is funded through North Ayrshire Council’s Child Poverty and Early Intervention Fund.
Specialists from four local organisations are collaborating, leveraging their local knowledge to connect residents with essential information, resources, and practical assistance. The team at Money Max will advocate for residents to ensure they receive correct support for debt reduction and to maximise their income. They aim to provide a welcoming and non-judgemental space for guidance throughout the process, offering pathways into education, training, and employment.
The four main organisations involved in this 12-month pilot project are: TACT, offering advocacy and navigation; Beith Trust, providing employability support including CV creation and interview preparation; 1st Alliance Community Bank, offering savings accounts, ethical loans, and budgeting advice; and CHAP, delivering free, confidential, and independent housing, debt, and benefits advice.
This initiative coincides with Challenge Poverty Week, an annual event running from October 5 to 11, which aims to raise awareness of poverty and inspire community action. The week is arranged by the Poverty Alliance charity.
Sarah Johnes, Strategic Support Officer at TACT, which is leading the project in Saltcoats, described Money Max as an exciting and ambitious new project focused on supporting families and reducing child poverty through advocacy, employability, debt, and welfare advice, and financial empowerment.
She highlighted that this collaborative approach, funded by the Council and bringing the team together since March, addresses the issue of third sector organisations working in isolation. Money Max aims to provide a solution where clients do not have to repeatedly share their stories with multiple organisations.
Based on information from the official source: North Ayrshire Council (07/10/2026)
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