Pasta Point Leeds, a pasta stand located at the heart of the Leeds Kirkgate Market, has launched with the support of a five-figure Start Up Loan delivered with support from Business Enterprise Fund (BEF). The funding… Continue reading
Tag: financial inclusion
From mechanic to business owner with a £184k loan
Chris Jones began his career at FRL Auto Services, where he spent 16 years honing his skills before moving on. When he later discovered that the garage’s long-time owner, Ian Gobel, was planning to sell after… Continue reading
From access to opportunity: Lessons from America’s CDFIs for a stronger UK
A transatlantic learning journey Four weeks on from our visit to Washington DC for the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) Conference, the Responsible Finance team, and the CDFI members who joined us, are buzzing with ideas. With… Continue reading
Responsible Finance reacts to the FCA’s Financial Lives 2020 Survey
The FCA’s new Financial Lives survey exposes the fragile state of our finances, both prior to the pandemic and now. In February last year, 20% of UK adults had low financial resilience – meaning they were… Continue reading
Podcast episode 7: resilience and consistency with Elaine Rimmer
Lancashire Community Finance was recognised earlier this year for its resilience and consistency in delivery of access to finance. It provides personal, home improvement and startup loans and reaches clients “even harder to reach than… Continue reading
CIC Blog: Ethnicity and Financial Exclusion
The UK is one of the most powerful financial centres in the world, yet financial exclusion remains a significant issue. At the same time, a recent report into racial prejudice in Britain today shows that despite… Continue reading
CIC Blog: Penny for your thoughts? ATMs & the future of cash
Recent changes by LINK to its interchange rate means that thousands of free-to-use cash machines in the UK are threatened, potentially limiting access to cash for hundreds of communities. Its plans mean that the fee banks… Continue reading
Blog: Credit Reference Agencies must start taking financial inclusion seriously
Inclusive credit scoring 28.02.2018 A known barrier to financial inclusion is the credit scoring approaches utilised by both mainstream and affordable lenders. Because of them, UK households could be paying £1,770 extra per year for basic… Continue reading
Responsible Finance calls for credit reference agencies to do more to support financial inclusion
28.02.2018 Current credit scoring approaches could be costing households £1,770 extra per year Credit reference agencies are using traditional credit scoring methods that are out of sync with modern financial life and that fail to accurately… Continue reading
Breathing Space call for evidence
Responsible Finance response. Problem debt places a heavy burden on individuals and families. It can lead to people falling into a persistent cycle of debt dependence with an ever-growing burden of debt, triggering stress and… Continue reading