Financial pressure is one of the most common but least talked-about stressors in the NHS workforce. East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust (EKHUFT) recognised this and wanted to do something meaningful about it. They are now developing 55 wellbeing advocates to become Money First Aiders: a peer-led, practical approach that could be embedded naturally within their existing wellbeing offer.
How it came about
The Trust’s relationship with Money First Aid began through Salary Finance, their financial wellbeing partner. Salary Finance helps employers strengthen financial resilience in their workforce through salary-linked savings, affordable loans, salary advance, financial education and in-app coaching – all provided at no cost to the employer. Salary Finance recommended Money First Aid® to Senior Wellbeing Adviser Rachel Roberts, who explored how the training could strengthen the Trust’s financial wellbeing offer and make this training a key part of their financial wellbeing solution.
Rachel coordinated a successful application to East Kent Hospitals Charity — which funds initiatives that improve staff health and wellbeing — securing the budget to move forward.
“At Salary Finance, we truly work in partnership with our clients and want to go beyond providing financial wellbeing benefits. We partner with employers like East Kent to build a culture where talking about money feels as normal as any other aspect of wellbeing. That’s why I recommended Money First Aid to Rachel. I’d seen first-hand how mental health first aid training shifted workplace conversations, and it was clear the same model could transform how the NHS supports staff facing financial stress. Rachel and her team have shown what’s possible. We’re proud to have played a part.
– Tom Beaumont, NHS Director, Salary Finance
Model of support
To create a structured and scalable support pathway, the Trust invested in two complementary programmes:
- 55 Money First Aider® licences
- 100 Improve Your Financial Wellbeing course licences
Money First Aiders® are trained to spot the early signs of financial stress, have an awareness of various financial challenges anyone can face, have supportive and informed conversations with colleagues facing these challenges, and signpost them to appropriate support. Staff who are looking to dive deeper into their own financial wellbeing can then be directed to the Improve Your Financial Wellbeing course: a self-paced course designed to build practical knowledge and long-term confidence around money.
This approach means staff get the right kind of support at the right time: whether that’s a conversation with a trained peer, or a structured course they can work through in their own time.
Getting people engaged from day one
EKHUFT are rolling out the training in stages, with the first 25 Money First Aiders invited to start the training in January 2026. The training is self-paced so each person could complete it in their own time and around their own schedules. A call was then held with this cohort to share ideas on how to raise awareness of their new role in the workplace and to answer any questions they had on the training. This helped to build strong early momentum.
Early results
The feedback from the Money First Aiders has been really positive, with an average rating of 9.3 out of 10 and everyone recommending it to others. Staff described it as clear, practical and genuinely supportive in tone.
- “Informative and interesting, showing real care for those who will need support.”
- “Swift, thorough and full of actionable steps that relieve the pressure of financial strain.”
- “Very easy to navigate, clearly structured and user-friendly.”
- “Eye-opening. It normalised financial worries and showed that help is available.”
Champion from within
Much of the programme’s early success comes down to Rachel Roberts, whose enthusiasm and careful coordination have been central to embedding it across the Trust. Her leadership has helped to reinforce a culture of making conversations about money feel less taboo and more like a normal part of wellbeing support.
“As the cost-of-living crisis continues to impact on the cost of bills and essentials, we know that financial concerns are an increasing cause of anxiety for many of our colleagues. However, many people still feel that talking about money problems and asking for help is a social taboo.
Our Money First Aiders are helping to create a safe, confidential space to seek support; breaking down barriers to education and services which are here to help in times of financial hardship. We are very grateful to have a group of people who are empathetic and compassionate towards their peers, and who are so committed to providing care, support and signposting to those who need it.”
– Rachel Roberts, Senior Wellbeing Adviser, EKHUFT
What the Trust has achieved
By combining skills-based training, self-paced learning and a well-planned launch, EKHUFT has:
- Strengthened its wellbeing support network with trained peers who can have informed, early conversations about money
- Improved the quality and consistency of financial wellbeing conversations across the Trust
- Increased early identification of staff who may need further support
- Given staff practical tools and resources they can use immediately
- Increased awareness of existing support already available, like the Salary Finance products
- Built a model that’s scalable and sustainable without placing extra demand on internal teams
What’s next
EKHUFT plans to continue rolling out licences across additional teams, using what they’ve learned from the first cohort to refine future phases. Each Money First Aider will also be aligned to a staff network, to ensure these groups have a named, recognised contact to reach out to regarding financial concerns.
Their approach shows what’s possible when financial wellbeing is taken seriously: not as a tick-box exercise, but as a genuine commitment to helping people feel more confident and secure at work.
About the author
Stacey Lowman is Co-Founder of Money First Aid, delivering practical online courses and financial education sessions across the UK, with currently 120 organisations training employees as Money First Aiders.
A financial wellbeing expert with 18 years’ experience in financial services, Stacey has has worked across global corporates, fintechs and start-ups in the UK, Europe, Asia and Silicon Valley. An accredited financial coach since 2016, she founded her own practice focused on values-led money management, and later co-developed one of the UK’s first digital workplace financial wellbeing experiences. She holds investment qualifications alongside psychotherapy and counselling training.
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