About VW and PPL
Background information about PPL and Virtual Wallet. There is too much detail here to be public-facing (i.e. it is NOT aimed at individuals, PAs or providers). The use-case is for communicating with stakeholder groups such as colleagues, councillors and partner organisations.
Virtual Wallet is a ‘software-and-a-service’ solution. It has been developed specifically for the management of direct payments (social care) and personal health budgets (NHS) in the UK.
Following successful trials with a small number of users, Buckinghamshire Council were the first local authority to adopt Virtual Wallet at scale in 2016. Buckinghamshire remain a Virtual Wallet client to this day.
Virtual Wallet is accessed by individuals (or their friends & family), PAs, providers and funding authorities, via any web-enabled device. The solution is seen as modern-day disruptor in the direct payments sector, offering a credible alternative to individually managed bank accounts, pre-paid card solutions and traditional ‘managed account’ services.
Virtual Wallet can be used for the management of any budget, ranging from small annual grants (e.g. £200 grants for short breaks) through to the most complex personal health budget packages (e.g. individuals with an annual budget of £150,000 that employ multiple personal assistants).
To complement Virtual Wallet, PPL offers a number of associated services, such as a payroll service, PA recruitment solutions and independent living advice.
The ongoing development of Virtual Wallet is influenced by the Virtual Wallet Steering Group, which meets quarterly and has a representative from each local authority and NHS integrated care board.
For the latest statistics and KPIs on Virtual Wallet , download the ‘VW Numbers’ summary within the Comms Hub.
Virtual Wallet is operated by a company called People Places Lives Limited (“PPL”).
PPL was originally formed in 2008 as a joint venture with the personalisation charity InControl. PPL is now a private limited company, and has been wholly owned by its management team since July 2023.
PPL’s vision is to be the #1digital personalisation solution in the UK, working with health and social care organisations empower PEOPLE, strengthen PLACES and improve LIVES.
PPL has two operating divisions:
- Digital delivery – the development and operation of web-based solutions for public-sector organisations, with a specific focus within the social care sector. The client base includes over 40 local authorities.
- Direct payments – the operation of Virtual Wallet and associated services. The client base includes 11 local authorities and 4 NHS integrated care boards.
PPL have 50 staff and are based in Wigan in the North West of England. In the year-ended 30 June 2024, PPL had revenues of £3.1m. PPL contract with local authorities, NHS organisations and other health & social care organisations across the UK, via public procurement processes or frameworks such as G-Cloud.
PPL holds ISO9001, ISO27001 and CyberEssentials accreditations.
See www.peopleplaceslives.co.uk for more information.