We will help you make the call – how you can join our network of Stop Loan Sharks Access points

Sometimes people who have borrowed from a loan shark need help to access the support they need from the England Illegal Money Lending Team.

This may be for practical reasons, such as not having a phone or internet access, or they may need emotional support and reassurance that they are doing the right thing.

It may also be that they’d prefer a physical place to go to for guidance on making that initial contact.

As a national organisation, the IMLT doesn’t have a central base that members of the public can visit.

But our partner organisations do – and we’re asking them to help by becoming a Stop Loan Sharks Access Point. The aim is to build a network of local spaces where borrowers can find a supportive ear and a safe place to make a call or learn more about available help.

What we are asking

To become an Access Point, we ask that your organisation can:

• Offer a borrower a private space
• Provide access to a computer and phone
• Stay with the borrower until they are comfortable talking to us
• Provide emotional support and reassurance if needed and assist in making a report

We will provide:

• Publicity material (posters, window stickers, leaflets, social media posts)
• A press release, that you can personalise with your organisation’s details, and newsletter inclusion
• Training and a how-to guide for public-facing staff

You will need:

• A private office or room and away to get in contact (phone, internet access and computer)
• To ensure staff members know what to do if someone asks for help
• To take part in training for reception/frontline staff

If someone is hesitant or reluctant to reach out, we ask that you:

• Reassure them they’ve done nothing wrong
• Tell them they can speak to us in confidence and anonymously
• Maybe show them a borrower’s story to help them understand how we have helped other in their position – these stories are available on our YouTube channel 

Contact us for more information

For more information on how you can become a Stop Loan Sharks Access Point, please email catherine.wohlers@birmingham.gov.uk

 

The organisations below have already signed up to become official Stop Loan Sharks Access Points:

NORTH EAST

• Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
• Stockton Citizen Advice
• Hartlepool Council (x5 Community Hubs)

GREATER MANCHESTER

• Sale West Youth & Community Centre
• Age UK Salford/Trafford
• OL1, Oldham
• Citizens Advice Wigan
• Wigan Life Centre
• Citizens Advice Bury and Bolton
• Bolton at Home (Family Hubs)
• Citizens Advice Leigh

NORTH YORKSHIRE

• Horizons

BERKSHIRE

• West Berks Public Protection Team

WEST YORKSHIRE

• FoodSavers – WellNest, 1^st Floor Darley St Market, Bradford
• Vico Homes
• North & West Foodbank
• Leeds Credit Union, Central Hub

LONDON

• London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
• Croydon Plus Credit Union
• Lewisham & Bromley Credit Union

LINCOLNSHIRE

• Citizens Advice Mid Lincs

DERBYSHIRE

• Derbyshire Districts Citizens Advice

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

• Welfare Together

CUMBRIA

• Whitehaven, Egremont & District CU
• Carlisle and District CU

EAST CHESHIRE

• East Cheshire TS (Council)

NORTH WEST

• Neo Community Centre, Birkenhead
• Taking Strides, Wirral
• Unify Credit Union – all five branches
• Wirral Credit Union – two sites
• Liverpool – Community Shop/Hub

SOUTH WEST

• Clean Slate – Bath/Bristol/Gloucestershire/London
• North Somerset Citizens Advice
• Curo Housing – Bath

SOUTH EAST

• Swaythling Frontline Debt Advice, Southampton

STAFFORDSHIRE

• EPIC Limited (Housing Association)
• Family Hubs – Staffordshire
• Tamworth Council
• Citizens Advice Staffordshire North & Stoke-on-Trent

WORCESTERSHIRE

• Worcester Community Trust
• Caring Hands in the Vale – Evesham
• Wyre Forest District Council
• Heart of Worcestershire College

WEST MIDLANDS

• Dudley Citizens Advice
• Dudley Building Society

LEICESTERSHIRE

• Melton Mowbray District Council

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

• Family Centres – Milton Keynes

ESSEX

• Colchester Borough Homes

NORFOLK

• DIAL Great Yarmouth

EAST RIDING

• The Hinge