OpenMoney offers free financial advice for struggling Britons and other good news

OpenMoney creates new program to aid struggling Brits

Financial advice group OpenMoney has created a new employee benefits program to aid people whose jobs have been affected by the pandemic.

Worklife is the digital platform of OpenMoney and allows small businesses to access a range of benefits and services usually only available to large corporate firms.

Among the benefits will be free financial advice, offering people much-needed support during the Covid-19 crisis.

Anthony Morrow, founder and chief executive of OpenMoney, says workers have been poorly served by traditional financial services companies during the pandemic.  

Morrow explains: "Small companies and their employees make up the biggest chunk of UK businesses and the country's workforce. They are the nation's engine room and its lifeblood. Without their hard work and earnings, the economy has ground to a halt.

"These workers deserve to be looked after, especially when so many have been furloughed and are facing money worries. It can be difficult to know where to turn to for advice on financial matters, so with the WorkLife platform we are finally giving smaller companies the tools they need to offer their employees this vital support."

More than nine million people in the UK are currently furloughed, 1.9 million mortgage borrowers have taken payment holidays and a further 1.5 million people have been given payment holidays on their loans and credit cards.

Aegon UK supports NHS

Aegon UK has given food and basic supplies to hospitals around the country in a bid to help those on the front line during the pandemic.

The pension and platform provider has partnered with its caterer Aramark to donate cold drinks, crisps, tray bakes, water, chocolate and hand cream to hospitals in Peterborough, Colchester, Salford, Chelmsford and Edinburgh.

This follows a £250,000 donation from Aegon in May to charities to aid coronavirus relief.

Aegon UK chief executive Mike Holliday-Williams says: "The coronavirus pandemic is affecting every part of society and for those of us on the side lines it's easy to feel helpless. But our communities all depend on the work being done in hospitals which is why it's so important that we all do our bit to help where we can.

"We received a few requests from employees in the business to help local NHS hospitals working on the front line. Our charity committee couldn't wait to get stuck into the challenge and contacted the hospitals local to Aegon offices to ask how to help. The message came back clearly that snacks and drinks staff could grab to keep them going during long shifts, and hand cream, would be a huge help."

Charities call for boost in Gift Aid

UK charities are calling on the government to temporarily increase the level of Gift Aid that can be claimed on donations, as charity groups face a lack of funds during the pandemic.

The proposed increase would mean charities would receive £133.33 for every £100 donated by a UK taxpayer once the Gift Aid has been claimed.

Charities Aid Foundation chief executive Sir John Low said: "This is a straight-forward, quick and tangible way to help charities at this most challenging time in their history. It is an emergency response in a time of crisis for the very charities providing vital services in the UK and around the world."

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