Of those, 31% attributed this to a reduced income and 13% had a lack of savings to fall back on in the pandemic. Other reasons included taking on more debt (13%), and redundancy and job losses (11%). When thinking of the future and being able to respond financially to a change in life circumstances, just 17% of people in Scotland say they feel very financially resilient.

To help improve financial resilience in the UK and Ireland, Royal London has announced Before I Go Solutions as one of its ten Changemakers. Before I Go Solutions is based in Scotland and aims to make end of life plans as common as birth plans.

To support everyone in this, including those for whom products might not be so easily accessible, the social enterprise created the Philip Rogers Scholarship Fund to enable those from disadvantaged communities of all kinds, in all countries, to take the Facilitators training, and bring this work to their own communities.

Royal London’s Changemakers programme is committing £1.5 million over three years to support the ten social enterprises that have all created bold and innovative ideas to improve resilience and protect against life shocks. Royal London worked with the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) to identify the ten Changemakers.

Sarah Pennells, consumer finance specialist at Royal London, said: “We know that the pandemic has affected millions of people’s financial resilience and that’s why investing in these inspiring Changemakers is so important. Each social enterprise has either direct lived experience, or experience by association, of the problem they’re trying to solve, and this comes with the passion to make a difference. We believe that these social enterprises can create real change and innovation is at the heart of it. We are delighted to support people who are looking at new ways of improving financial resilience.”

Jane Duncan Rogers, founder of Before I Go Solutions, added: “I founded Before I Go Solutions in 2017 after my husband died and I discovered just how important planning in advance for a good end of life is. It’s enabled me to bring together over 25 years in coaching, personal growth and small business mentoring to help others understand the importance of this and hopefully make end of life plans as common as birth plans.”