![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_PinPep_MoneyMatters_DP_023JPG.jpg\")
Chris Chapman, 58, from Rochdale expects to gain over \u00a312,000 in benefits thanks to Money Matters, a scheme set up by Kellogg’s and Resolve Poverty.(Image: PinPep)<\/p>\nChris Chapman hit rock bottom earlier this year. One programme helped him back upChris Chapman, 58, from Rochdale expects to gain over \u00a312,000 in benefits thanks to Money Matters, a scheme set up by Kellogg’s and Resolve Poverty.(Image: PinPep)<\/p>\n
It took two months for Chris Chapman\u2019s worst nightmares to become reality.<\/p>\n
The single dad from Rochdale<\/a> was struggling with debt when he was made redundant at 58 in January. By March, making ends meet was a tall order.<\/p>\n The cutbacks on \u2018clothing, gas, electricity and social activities\u2019 for his family were tough, as was being unable to provide new boots for his 16-year-old son, an avid Rochdale Mayfield rugby league player.<\/p>\n To see planning applications; traffic and road diversions and layout changes; and more, visit the Public Notices Portal HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n But the \u2018tension\u2019 the savings created was another matter entirely, Chris said, as he skipped meals to keep his family afloat.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d been a single parent for 10 years so nothing\u2019s ever been easy, I\u2019ve always been ready to fight mentally and push myself to succeed \u2013 but it felt like I was running out of traction,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe lack of money for even the basics creates some tension between us. I sometimes missed meals to provide things for my son.<\/p>\n \u201cI could feel myself getting more and more depressed, and going under slightly.\u201d<\/p>\n Chris\u2019 spiral only stopped when Resolve Poverty stepped in with its \u2018Money matters\u2019 programme.<\/p>\n Co-created with cereal giant Kellogg\u2019s, Money Matters gives parents advice on how to manage debt, and tells them how to claim benefits they are already entitled to.<\/p>\n The project installed \u2018financial inclusion officers\u2019 at participating schools for the last three years, and Resolve Poverty said on Tuesday (August 26) it\u2019s helped more than 300 families in that time to become around \u00a3500,000 better off in total.<\/p>\n The average gain for each family was \u00a31,634 per year, and one household saw their income jump by a staggering \u00a324,121 annually.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1_PinPep_MoneyMatters_DP_007JPG.jpg\")
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\nChris Chapman, 58, from Rochdale expects to gain over \u00a312,000 in benefits thanks to Money Matters, a scheme set up by Kellogg’s and Resolve Poverty.(Image: PinPep)<\/p>\n