Stop Loan Sharks Community Funding

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The England Illegal Money Lending Team has funding available for groups that want to raise awareness of the issues of illegal money lending. Grants of up to £5,000 are available for local residents, charities, community and voluntary groups, schools and statutory agencies. The money available has come from the proceeds of crime taken from convicted illegal money lenders.

Illegal Money Lenders, more commonly known as Loan Sharks, lend money without having the correct permissions from the Financial Conduct Authority. They often give cash loans out without any paper work and want double the amount back or charge extortionate interest rates. When you struggle to make repayments they may use violence, threats and intimidation, to ensure you keep paying them. The aim of this funding is to give groups the opportunity to raise awareness of the issue, in their community in a different way.

Your project must meet all the four main aims:

1. Innovative
2. Community engagement
3. Impact
4. Legacy

Funds 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

Due to the number of films funded in previous years, only films that have a guaranteed audience of 500 people will be considered, and you need to tell how this figure will be reached. Adverts on radio stations will not be funded, although campaigns by radio stations will be considered.

Funds can’t be used to support an existing project that only adds Illegal Money Lending to its program. The Stop Loan Sharks message must be at the core of the project. Funds can’t be spent on:

• Repeating an existing project
• Staff salary, day to day running costs of your organisation or vehicle costs
• Producing freebies, publicity merchandise or distribution costs.
• Staff training – we can deliver this for free
• Food – we can fund tea and coffee for projects but not food
• Any costs you incur whilst putting together your application

For an application form, contact catherine.wohlers@birmingham.gov.uk.

For support or advice, contact Tracy Fairhurst 07900 882931 or tracy.fairhurst@birmingham.gov.uk.

Closing date: Friday 30 June 2017