Background
Since early in 2003 Leeds have been developing a strategy to tackle financial exclusion in the city and put in place mechanisms to assist people and provide an alternative to high interest doorstep lenders and loan sharks.
A lot has happened already in Leeds to put in place facilities which were previously absent.
There has been a massive expansion of Leeds City Credit Unions branches across the city. The Credit Union has launched a special loan scheme to provide affordable credit for those who do not have access to a bank account.
Leeds has also secured Government funding for face to face debt advice which has increased provision across the city by 160%.
A significant initiative was launched in 2007 to tackle illegal money lending in the city.
The most important part of the Council’s financial inclusion strategy is the integration of working across all the partners involved in the project.
The hope is that the above and many more schemes which will be introduced in the future, will make a significant difference to the lives of citizens in Leeds. More information about the various initiatives in place or planned can be viewed on the Initiatives page.
Beacon status
In 2007 Leeds City Council was awarded Beacon status under the theme ‘Promoting financial inclusion and tackling over indebtedness’. This theme looks at enabling adults in low income households access to mainstream financial services such as banking and affordable credit.
Details about Beacon status are available on the Beacon status and events page.
Links to other project pages
The attached PDF leaflet - Overcoming financial difficulty - provides a guide for anyone seeking details about the various agencies working in Leeds who provide affordable credit, benefit advice and debt advice.