In this heartwarming episode of Making Waves, we speak to Tracy Cox-Horton, our Financial Wellbeing Support Officer (known as Money Tracy) based in University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust supporting staff facing financial difficulties. What started as providing access to loans and savings through payroll has grown into a vital lifeline for staff dealing with the cost of living crisis, debt problems and beyond.
Tracy shares how her journey began:
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Offering payroll savings and loans to staff in partnership with Wave Community Bank.
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Expanding her role to help manage applications to the hospital’s Crisis Fund, offering emergency support for essentials like fridges and unexpected bills.
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Drawing on her background as a financial adviser to offer guidance on pensions, budgeting, and money management, explaining complex financial topics in easy-to-understand ways.
Today, Tracy is a trusted source of support across multiple hospital sites, running information sessions, helping managers with pension forms, and offering one-to-one support for staff facing challenges like sickness, debt, and even domestic abuse.
In this episode, we explore:
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How financial worries often link to wider issues like mental health and domestic abuse — and how practical financial help can be a turning point for people in crisis.
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The incredible impact on staff retention, with many employees choosing to stay at the Trust thanks to the financial stability and support Tracy provides.
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Why providing on-site financial education and support is not just “nice to have” — it’s essential for improving staff wellbeing, reducing sickness absence, and saving the Trust money in the long run.
Tracy explains her motivation simply:
“When someone tells you they’ve been able to escape a bad situation, sort out their money, and come back to work — you can’t get more satisfaction than that.”
Today, you’ll find Tracy across the Trust’s four acute hospital sites, from the Royal Sussex County hospital in Brighton to Worthing and St Richard’s in Chichester, offering staff a safe space to get money guidance to help them take control of their finances, and build brighter futures.
