Financial wellbeing support

We are working in partnership with Affinity Connect to provide a range of free online interactive workshops about financial topics, aimed at people working in the public sector. 

The sessions provide information only and do not include or constitute regulated financial advice.

If you have any issues registering for any of the sessions, contact Affinity Connect with the date and time that you would like to attend.

Your financial wellbeing course

This 1 hour 30 minutes online course is designed to help you clearly identify the 4 steps towards becoming financially well that can support your through working life and beyond. Providing information to help support you to make informed financial decisions.

The session will help you to:

• understand your take home pay
• take stock of your current financial position, discuss the benefits of budgeting and explore options of how to cut costs
• highlight the different types of borrowing and how to manage debt and improve credit scoring 
• understand the State Pension and different types of workplace pensions
• understand next steps and where to receive further guidance and investments

Course dates

10 March 2025
12 November 2025

Book your financial wellbeing session on Affinity Connect.

Planning for retirement course

This 2 hour 30 minutes online course will encourage a positive and realistic approach to a financially secure retirement and help you to make informed choices about retirement.

During the session you will:

• explore changes in lifestyles 
• identify where income is expected to come from and how it is taxed differently in retirement
• understand the State Pension and different types of workplace pensions
• learn about the risks and rewards involved in savings and investments
• discover why increased life expectancy escalates the dangers of inflation and how to combat it
• find out how to ensure your estate is passed to your intended beneficiaries
• understand Inheritance Tax
• understand next steps and where to receive further guidance and regulated financial advice

Course dates

22 April 2025
09 June 2025
13 August 2025
12 November 2025
03 December 2025

Book your planning for retirement session on Affinity Connect.

Pension tax allowances course

This 1 hour online course is designed to provide you with an overview of some of the key decisions to consider with your pensions. This will include understanding the valuable tax relief opportunities available, the limits applied to obtain tax relief and the consequences of exceeding the limits, including actions to consider with your pensions.

The session will help you to:

• maximise the opportunities for funding pensions
• understand the potential issues with the annual allowance and tax free cash restriction
• understand situations where these limits may be higher or lower
• understand how the pension tax allowances are calculated
• be clear on the actions that can be taken
• understand next steps and where to receive further guidance and regulated financial advice

Course dates

16 October 2025

Book your understanding allowances session on Affinity Connect.

Contact Affinity Connect

Telephone: 0800 019 6076

Email: bookings@affinityconnect.org

If you attend a session, let us know how you get on by emailing wellbeing@essex.gov.uk.

You can find out more about financial workshops and courses in the learning and development section.