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Berneslai Homes helps to target the sharks
Photo caption: Minister for Yorkshire and Humber Rosie Winterton and Cllr Roy Miller, Chairman of the South Yorkshire Trading Standard Joint Committee, launch the initiative against illegal money lenders across the South Yorkshire. They are pictured with Barnsley Council’s Head of Community Protection and Licensing Simon Frow (left).
We have recently launched our Financial Inclusion Strategy which aims to improve the lives of those on low incomes, those in debt or likely to fall into debt, those struggling to manage household budgets and those without access to appropriate financial help and advice.
As part of the strategy’s action plan we have been working in partnership with Barnsley Citizens Advice Bureau, Barnsley Council Welfare Rights and Barnsley Credit Union to provide people with help and advice relating to debt and budget management.
Carole Roby, Rents Manager adds,” At Berneslai Homes we want our customers to make the right choices, we want to help them maximise their income wherever possible, ensure they receive any benefits they are entitled to and above all ensure that they stay in their home.”
Berneslai Homes have been supporting and helping to promote the government funded project ‘Stop the loan sharks’. The campaign aims to crackdown on illegal money lenders across South Yorkshire and was launched at Barnsley Town Hall in January, by Minister for Yorkshire and Humber Rosie Winterton and Councillor Roy Miller, Chairman of the South Yorkshire Trading Standard Joint Committee.
The ‘Stop Loan Sharks’ campaign works with local authority trading standards services and a team of highly trained investigators from the project will work with the four South Yorkshire local authorities – Barnsley, Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster – to track down loan sharks who prey on some of the most vulnerable people in the community.
Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Yorkshire and Humber, said: "Illegal money lenders prey on the most vulnerable members of our community who are then overcome by debt and end up living in fear and despair.
"People often start by borrowing only small sums of money find themselves having to pay excessive amounts of interest and owing far more money than they ever dreamt of. They do not know where to turn and, as there is no legal way of collecting the debt, the lenders intimidate and often threaten violence to collect it.
“The Stop Loan Sharks initiative gives us the enforcement tools to deal with the rogue money lenders. Crucially, it also provides advice to people who need financial help. It is a good example of partnership between government and local councils and I congratulate all those involved in setting it up and those delivering it on the ground."
For further information please visit our Money and Debt Advice section.
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