Financial Inclusion useful resources Banking, saving and credit Organisation Area Details Stop Loan Sharks Team Illegal lenders National coverage

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1 Financial Inclusion useful resources Banking, saving and credit Organisation Area Details Stop Loan Sharks Team Illegal lenders The Stop the Loan Sharks Team is based in Birmingham but they work with local Trading Standards to identify and prosecute loan sharks (illegal money lenders), and to provide one-to-one support to victims of loan sharks. Credit Unions Banking, saving & credit but varies locally A loan shark is anyone who lends money without having a licence to do that from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). These unlicensed money-lenders are working illegally they are loan sharks. Loan sharks all tend to work in similar ways: they rarely give any paperwork to the people they've loaned money to - making it very difficult to keep track of how much is owed if payments are missed, they often use threats and violence to get more money they charge extremely high rates of interest and also add other 'charges' to loans whenever they want they take away people's bank cards as 'security' People who have borrowed from loan sharks are often very frightened or reluctant to come forward in case they, or their family are harmed. However, anyone can report loan shark activity in confidence by calling or Texting loan shark and the details you want to pass on to or by reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk The team can supply posters, leaflets, postcards, deliver free training to staff, attend community events (they have a Shark Suit!). For further info see: Independent, not-for-profit community savings and affordable loan cooperatives, CUs are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority so your money is safe (same as a bank or building society). Membership organization within common bonds e.g. live or work. You can save as much or as little as you like (usual minimum 1 per week). CUs offers a range of affordable loan packages based on individuals circumstances. DWP loans currently funded by Growth Fund at 26.8% but lowest interest rates are usually for loans to people who have been saving with them for 12 weeks or more

2 (as low as 7%). Interest rates on loans are much lower than those charged by doorstep lenders and are a safe and affordable alternative to borrowing from a loan shark. CUs often offer different savings products a useful one for people who find it hard to save is the Christmas savings account where deposits can t be withdrawn until November. Some CUs offer current bank accounts (small charge may apply). To find your local CU visit: or for the NE of England see: Advice & Income Maximisation Organisation Area Details Turn2Us Benefits & grants National web site and telephone service Home Heat Helpline Benefits & fuel poverty National web site and telephone service Citizens Advice Bureau Debt, Benefit, Housing Advice etc National web site Local telephone & F2F Turn2us helps people access the money available to them through welfare benefits, grants and other financial help. Online benefit calculator, grant search facility & confidential helpline: For further info see: Can advise on benefits, grants for free home insulation, reduced tariffs and special payment options energy suppliers provide to help those struggling with their fuel bills. Residents can submit an enquiry online, ask for a call back or call The Home Heat Helpline is open 9am-8pm Monday to Friday and 10am-2pm on Saturdays. Residents can call themselves, on behalf of a relative or to help out a friend, patient, client or a neighbour they re worried about. For more info see: National charity providing free, impartial, independent and confidential advice on a wide range of topics including debt, benefits, housing, family, immigration etc. Offers face to face appointments as well as telephone advice. Expert advice on the full range of priority and non-priority debts and options ranging from negotiations with creditors to bankruptcy. Holds the CLS/LSC quality mark.

3 Clients may be assisted with self help or casework undertaken on their behalf. For more info see: National Debtline Debt Advice National web site & telephone National free telephone helpline for people with debt problems and holds the CLS Quality Mark. The service provides self-help advice to its callers and also produces written self-help packs and fact sheets to back this up. It offers expert advice on the full range of debts from rent arrears to congestion charges by telephone, and in writing. This service is good for people who do not have a serious debt problem or for those who feel they can manage their debts themselves with some guidance. For more info see: CCCS Debt Advice National web site & telephone DMPs only Payplan Debt advice National web site & telephone DMPs and IVAs only British Gas / Scottish Gas Energy Trust Grants for fuel arrears and other household goods British / Scottish Gas Customers EDF Energy Trust Grants for fuel arrears and other household goods EDF customers only N Power Energy Trust Grants for fuel arrears and other household goods N Power customers only National telephone debt advice service funded by the credit industry. Can help with non-priority debts only and can set up not-for-profit debt management plans. For more info see: National telephone debt advice company. Can help with non-priority debts only and can set up not-for-profit debt management plans. Can also assist with IVAs. For more info see: Grants are available to help individuals and families in need to meet arrears of energy charges and other household bills and costs. To apply to the Trust, the resident must be a current domestic account holder (person/persons named on bill) of British Gas or Scottish Gas. For more information see: Grants are available to help individuals and families in need to meet arrears of energy charges and other household bills and costs. To apply to the Trust, the resident must be a current domestic account holder (person/persons named on bill) of EDF. For more info see: Grants are available to help individuals and families in need to meet arrears of energy charges and other household bills and costs. To apply to the Trust, the resident must be a current domestic account holder (person/persons named on bill) of N Power. For more info see:

4 Water Trust Funds Grants for water arrears Various national Trusts Anglian Water Trust Fund PO Box 42, Peterborough, PE3 8XH. Telephone As well as water and sewerage debts they may also pay bankruptcy fees and any other bills you are having difficulty paying. Hartlepool Water, Cambridge Water, Three Valleys Water, Essex & Suffolk Water are either owned by Anglian Water or contribute towards its trust fund and you can also apply to the Anglian fund if you are a customer of one of these companies. EOS Foundation PO Box 42, Peterborough PE3 8XH Telephone: eos@charisgrants.com Will help with water debts and other essential bills. You will need to fill in an application form with proof of income. You must be a customer of Portsmouth Water, Tendring Hundred Water, Folkestone and Dover Water, Mid Kent Water, Bournemouth & West Hampshire Water, South East Water Severn Trent Water Trust Fund Telephone: office@sttf.org.uk As well as water and sewerage debts they may also pay bankruptcy fees and any other bills you are having difficulty paying. South Staffordshire Water Trust Fund (water company website only) Telephone: Only pay for water debts. You must show some commitment to pay 1.00 or more a week for 2 months. To apply you need a personal budget sheet completed by an adviser and a covering letter. Thames Water Trust Fund Telephone: office@twtf.org.uk The Trust can assist with water and sewerage charges. In certain cases they can also

5 help towards other bills or costs that you cannot manage. United Utilities Trust Fund Telephone: PO Box Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B73 9DF Yorkshire Water Community Trust Telephone: info@ywct.org.uk Only assist with water or sewerage arrears that are no more than two years old and less than You must have at least one priority debt as well as water arrears. WATER COMPANIES OPERATING RESTART SCHEMES (Trust fund matches your payments on your arrears) Thames Water (water company website only) Telephone: (customer helpline) "Customer Assistance Fund" only assists with water or sewerage charges and they prefer that you are referred by a local advice centre/ndl/cab/social Services/Age Concern. You may be visited in your home. Welsh Water/Dwr Cymru Telephone: "Customer Assistance Fund" You must be referred by a money adviser and complete an application form. After you have made payments for 6 months, the fund pays half your water arrears. After another 6 months' payments the rest of the arrears will be paid. Bristol Water (water company website only) Apply in writing to: BWBSL, 1 Clevedon Walk, Nailsea, Bristol BS48 1WW. You have to write to them to request to be considered for the restart scheme. You may then be visited in your home. Wessex Water: Telephone: BWBSL 1 Clevedon Walk, Nailsea, Bristol, BS48 1WW.

6 Covers water or sewage charges. Scheme assists customers who have struggled to pay in the past and built up substantial arrears. If you keep to an agreed payment arrangement, Wessex Water may be able to help you with the arrears. You can write in, telephone or apply via an advice agency. South West Water Telephone: (customer services) "Special Assistance Scheme" helps with water charges only. Application forms from CAB's and Age Concern. You have to provide evidence that you are trying to pay or stick to a repayment programme. Financial capability Organisation Area Details CFEB General financial capability & guidance Staff training The Consumer Finance Education Body is an independent body formed from the education arm of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and it leads on the national strategy for financial capability. It does this in a number of different ways. a) CFEB s Money Made Clear Service provides free, impartial guidance on everyday money matters such as: budgeting weekly or monthly spending; saving and borrowing, and insuring and protecting themselves and their families; retirement planning; understanding tax and welfare benefits; jargon-busting explaining the technical language we use in the financial services industry; and money guidance is also completely sales-free. it cannot offer crisis advice but will help as much as possible before signposting to relevant agencies The service is delivered through a web site: which contains a wealth of information on financial topics, as well as useful tools such as a debt test and a loan calculator. Also delivered through a freephone telephone line: and a face-to-face service will be rolled out during Leaflets advertising the service can be ordered through the web site. b) Series of handy, easy to read guides on a wide range of financial issues. These are

7 free to order and can be given out to customers: Some are particularly useful such as the ones on basic bank accounts and budgeting. Booklets are also available on topics such as Redundancy and Retirement which can be provided free to HR depts.. Barclays Moneyskills Financial capability for young people age Deliver direct or Train the Trainer c) Making the Most of Your Money seminar for employees this is completely free and consists of an impartial session of financial education. The seminar, which takes about an hour, is designed to be delivered easily & effectively in the workplace by a specially trained presenter & all attendees receive a free supporting guide. For further details see: The sessions are free, fun and interactive built around a board game. They aim to give young people a broad overview of key financial topics such as essential and nonessential expenditure, budgeting, reading bank statements and credit reports. Although aimed primarily at young people, the sessions can be adapted to other users such as teenage parents and people with learning disabilities. Fairbridge Young People and Money Staff training Sessions can be delivered directly to service users or staff can be trained to deliver themselves. For further info see: Funded by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), Young People and Money is a free, one-day training course that delivers financial capability training to those working with young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), the programme has been designed to equip youth workers with the knowledge and skills to empower young people to manage their own finances. The Young People and Money training day includes: Understanding the psychology of young people and money Helping young people make the most of their money Enabling young people to make informed choices Skills to engage young people in financial matters Helping young people to manage debt To book go to:

8 CAB Financial Capability forums Financial capability for residents and staff Committed to working with others to help people develop their skills and confidence to avoid financial crisis. Promote and engage with interagency networking and projects at a national, regional and local level. There are 14 regional financial capability forums led by bureaux or other community partners and meet at least three times each year. County and sub-regional forums have also been established in some areas as well as trainers' forums, which are aimed specifically at practitioners who are delivering, or planning to deliver, financial capability training. The forums have already attracted participants from over 700 organisations through regular meetings in their area and have channelled more than 1 million of national funding to forum members to help them promote financial capability in their communities. They have also provided members with access to Citizens Advice training materials and programmes. For more about the forums please contact your local forum coordinator or Beth Bell, the national forums coordinator. Home Contents Insurance Organisation Area Details ABI Staff training for RSLs to download and deliver internally A training pack for housing providers has been developed in conjunction with the ABI and the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The pack is designed to be used by housing providers to help their frontline staff understand home contents insurance and consider the best ways to promote it to residents. Using a combination of presentation, discussion, and group exercises it covers the following topics: How home contents insurance works The benefits to tenants of being insured Different types of home contents insurance policies The benefits to landlords of having insured tenants How to promote HCI what works, what doesn t

9 The pack comprises: Trainer notes Powerpoint slides Moneymadeclear fact sheet Jargon Made Clear fact sheet Guide for housing officers AGE UK Older people UNLOCK Ex-offenders and their families The full course lasts approximately 2.5 hours, or 1 hour if the exercises are omitted. Alternatively, you can use the materials to suit your own needs and timeframes. In addition the FSA have published guidelines specifically for housing providers on financial regulations and the promotion of home contents insurance. For further information see: Age UK Home Insurance offers a range of special benefits for older people. For further details see: Mainstream insurers are not interested in reformed offenders, so it can be very difficult to secure insurance even with the most minor convictions, committed years in the past. However, things have come a long way since UNLOCK started its work with insurance brokers in the year Through specialist brokers, reformed offenders can now get access to a wide range of insurances including: - Home Buildings / Home Contents Motor Car / Motorbike / Caravan Travel Landlords Employer / Public Liability / Tradesman / Contractor Commercial / Business Vehicle / Motor Trade Want to know more about the insurance issue? Download the UNLOCKing Insurance Guide Your Money, Your Insurance National web site Want to know the where to get insurance from? Download UNLOCK's List of Insurers Easy to understand web site which helps people find out about all the different kinds of

10 insurance there are and how to check what they might need. It explains what insurance is, how to buy the right insurance for you, and what to look for. Uses simple language and lots of pictures for those who may have literacy difficulties or difficulty understanding English. For more info see: