A Government report has praised Derwent & Solway Housing Association for its work in increasing access to financial services in Cumbria through the Financial Inclusion Champions Initiative.

The Initiative was designed at the request of the government’s Financial Inclusion Taskforce to increase the supply of basic financial services for financially excluded people. The National Assessment of the Champions report, carried out by Loughborough University, found that the work carried out by Financial Inclusion Champions across the country had been very successful in co-ordinating services to support people in financial crisis.

Through the initiative Derwent & Solway, a member of Harvest Housing Group was able to support initiatives to increase access to banking, saving, debt and money advice, affordable credit and home contents insurance. The project was managed by a champion, appointed by Derwent & Solway.

Successes have included establishing the Cumbria Financial Inclusion Forum, the creation of the Cumbria Financial Inclusion Strategy, the availability of affordable credit through the Cumbria Asset Re-Investment Trust, and support for the Cumbrian Credit Union Network.

Cumbrian Credit Unions have made significant progress through development work, creation of new study groups and a move towards shared systems and processes, and as a result there has been a large increase in Credit Union members across the county. A monthly radio slot was also secured to promote the scheme.

Robert Porter, Director of Derwent & Solway said; “The initiative was very successful and we are proud to have been involved. Although it has now come to a conclusion all organisations in Cumbria need to retain their commitment to financial inclusion, especially in these times of austerity.”

The Financial Inclusion Champions Initiative concluded in March 2011. The project will leave a lasting legacy in Cumbria through the Cumbria Financial Inclusion Forum. The Forum is a broad partnership of public, private and voluntary organisations with an interest in financial inclusion, and offers a range of projects and initiatives to take forward for the county.

 

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