image: Clothes Show, Birmingham, 2008image: relax ... we can help

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raising awareness among women

Consumer research shows that younger women are still less aware than men of their right to complain – and bring fewer complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service. To help raise awareness of the service's impartial role in settling financial disputes, the ombudsman launched a campaign to engage with younger women. Our work has included:

work with specialist media

  • coverage in selected magazines, including:
    Women magazine – to mark international women's day, ombuds"women" feature in Women magazine – the lifestyle and wellbeing publication focusing on women's achievements.
    My Money [PDF opens in new window] – a woman's guide to earning, saving and spending.
    Jump [PDF opens in new window] – a magazine for growing families.
    Reveal – a celebrity-based magazine aimed at readers from 16-34.

Following these activities, the proportion of women who referred complaints to the ombudsman has increased by 8%.

out and about

  • taking part in International Women's Month including working alongside local community groups such as Island Neighbourhood Project [opens in new window], and distributing ombudsman service information across London-based International Women's Month events.
  • taking part in the National Wedding Show at London's Earls Court – described as the UK's biggest wedding "department-store", with the focus on fashion, food and finance.
  • taking part in Clothes Show Live at the Birmingham NEC – following earlier involvement with the Glow beauty and vitality show in Belfast and the Vitality health, beauty and well-being show at London Olympia.
  • providing training for the London College of Beauty Therapists – to raise awareness of the ombudsman service with therapists, who have found that they are increasingly being asked by clients for practical information on how to sort out money-related problems.