Credit Action Projects

In addition to our core work, Credit Action runs projects mainly targeting good money management amongst groups considered particularly vulnerable to debt or financial poverty such as prisoners, students and single parents.

Current projects

Prison project

48% of prisoners have a history of debt and 60% are financially excluded (do not have access to mainstream financial products such as bank accounts). Money issues have been identified by the National Offender Management Service as one of the causes of re-offending and therefore access to advice and money education training are important services.

Credit Action is working in partnership with the Co-operative Group to produce and distribute basic financial education materials for use within prisons. The materials are highly visual and are based on a short course that some of our volunteers have been delivering for almost 10 years in prisons in East Yorkshire.

Polish 'Thinking About Money' project

In September 2008 Credit Action will have 10,000 Polish 'Thinking About Money' guides available for organisations and individuals throughout the UK thanks to funding that covers translation, printing, design and distribution from International Personal Finance. This guide provides information on bank accounts, saving, taking out credit and many other fundamental elements of the present financial system.

The latest figures show that there are upwards of 700,000 Poles living in the UK and it is our hope that these guides will reach those within the Polish community that are most in need of help with managing their finances or working their way out of debt. This project is the first of a wider effort to translate and make available guides in many other languages for non-English speaking communities in the UK.

To pre-order some of these guides please e-mail Lindsey on office@creditaction.org.uk or call 0207 436 9937. 

Postcard project

Through this project, Credit Action aims to bring straightforward budgeting tips and signposting to free debt advice to marginalised groups through use of eye-catching postcards. In the pilot phase in East Lancashire, the postcards were distributed via housing associations, a credit union and home credit agents. Representatives from these organisations are often the first to know if someone is struggling with money and are therefore able to provide information when it is most needed. Through the pilot project, 8,000 postcards were distributed and we are evaluating the results to plan our roll out.  

Big Issue Financial Inclusion project

In summer 2007, the Big Issue Foundation initiated a financial inclusion project to help Big Issue sellers to manage their money effectively. The project recognises the difficulties that those who are homeless face in accessing financial services and managing money on low and irregular incomes. We at Credit Action are delighted to be one of three partners working with the Big Issue to deliver these services to their vendors. The project seeks to address issues of financial literacy and exclusion and, through it, vendors will be able to access a range of financial support including opening a bank account and dealing with debts. In the Credit Action sessions, they will receive assistance in creating a personal budget and identifying and working towards saving goals.

Student project

Credit Action has been publishing its Student Moneymanual since 1994 and from 2007/8, in partnership with Cattles Plc, it will be distributed to all UCAS applicants for the next 4 years. To evaluate the effectiveness of the manual in helping students manage their money better and to consider the wider implications of student debt, this project will incorporate a research element.