23 April 2018
Stop Loan Sharks Community Funding
The England Illegal Money Lending Team is making funding available again this year for community groups that want to raise awareness of the issues of illegal money lending.
The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) was set up in 2004. Initially created as a pilot scheme in Birmingham to investigate loan sharks it had such an impact on illegal money lending it received further Government funding. The IMLT work as Stop Loan Sharks within local communities, within education, and with partner agencies, such as the police, housing associations and debt advice services. In the last 14 years, the team has supported more than 25,000 people and written off over £63.5 million of debt in England alone. The IMLT also works in Wales and Scotland.
For a third year in a row, the England Illegal Money Lending Team is offering grants of up to £5,000 for charities, community and voluntary groups, schools, statutory agencies and local residents in England.
The funding can be spent on any worthwhile community project that meets the following criteria:
- Contributes to raising the awareness of the dangers of using loan sharks.
- Prevents crime and disorder and publicises the Stop Loan Sharks message.
- Promotes the work of the Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) in communities.
- Encourages reporting of loan sharks.
There is particular interest in projects and initiatives that are different from the rest and will leave a legacy in the communities they are delivered in.
Projects must address four aims: innovative, community engagement, impact and legacy.
The deadline for applications is 30 June 2018.