Anti-loan shark campaign for Spirita residents
Nottingham-based Spirita, one of the largest providers of housing and associated support services in the East Midlands, has teamed up with the East Midlands Public Protection Project Team to offer support and advice to its residents to help stop them from becoming victims of loan sharks.
All Spirita’s residents will receive advice on where to go for help, how to access leaflets and get support as part of a major campaign by the organisation to help people cope with the economic downturn.
Simon Cousins, Spirita’s Income Manager, said: “All our residents will receive information on where to go for help if they are have fallen victim to a loan shark. We know that this can cause tremendous problems for people and we wanted them to know that there is help out there.
“We are doing everything we can to help people cope with the current financial crisis and would strongly advise anyone who has been approached by an illegal lender to contact the Project Team on 0115 851 0351.”
The East Midlands Public Protection Project Team has been set up by BERR (the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) as part of the Government’s crackdown on illegal money lending. It is based in Nottingham.
Its hotline number, which is open 24 x 7, is 0115 851 0351 and all calls will be taken in total confidence.
The team offers people advice and support; refers them to legitimate credit agencies – including credit unions; investigates complaints and prosecutes people involved in loan sharking.
Spirita will be promoting the service to all its residents, advising people where to go to get further help if they have fallen victim to an illegal money lender and helping them download information from the internet, via a link from its own website www.spirita.org.uk.
Media Enquiries: Sallie Blair, 01283 821012 / 07702 541401