Costing £2.4m Better Off Finance is funded by Building Better Opportunities via the European Social Fund and Big Lottery and will run for two years.

A £2.4m project has been launched to help more than 800 people across the Liverpool city region better manage their finances and access employment and training.

Better Off Finance is funded by Building Better Opportunities via the European Social Fund and Big Lottery.

Its aim is to connect with residents from across Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral.

The project will provide support to people who are facing challenges moving towards or accessing employment opportunities, and those who, due to a lack of financial capabilities, face resulting barriers that can make it more difficult when trying to find and keep a job.

The two-year project will offer support to individuals to improve the ability to manage their money better and gain skills to cope with changes in circumstances.

Better Off Finance will also help residents across Liverpool city region prepare for and progress into sustainable employment as well as training and education opportunities.

It is a collaborative effort and will be carried out by 11 different support agencies across the Liverpool city region with Liverpool-based The Women’s Organisation acting as the accountable body.

Maggie O’Carroll, chief executive of The Women’s Organisation, said: “We believe that the Better Off Finance project is a new and innovative way of working towards helping people find employment and stay in employment.

“Looking at financial capabilities hasn’t been addressed previously and building an individual’s skills in this area is crucial to that.”