Face to Face – that’s Handy!
Affordable Loans service now even more accessible

To help combat financial hardship Cumbrian financial Inclusion project DRAMA (Debt Rescue & Money Advice) has made it even easier to access its Handy Loans service in the Barrow area with face to face interviews and advice now available.

As well as applying by telephone or via the website (www.handyloanscumbria.co.uk), Handy Loans now offer the opportunity to talk to a member of the team face-to-face in Barrow town centre every Wednesday at the Central and Hindpool neighbourhood management offices, Dalton Road.

Dawn Clark, DRAMA project manager; “The Handy Loans service is a Cumbria wide partnership that offers accessible, affordable loans to everyone. The service has been available in Barrow for 12 months and we have seen affordable loans delivered consistently during this time. The addition of face-to-face interviews has made applying for a loan quicker, easier and more accessible, so we hope even more people will use the service as an alternative to high cost lenders such as doorstep lenders .’’

Handy Loans are a more affordable option for customers, typical £500 loan borrowed through the Handy Loans service could save lenders over £340 in interested compared to a loan of the same value through a typical doorstep lender.

Anyone over the age of 18 and living in Cumbria, can apply for a Handy Loan regardless of their circumstances. The service is delivered through partnership working with agencies across Cumbria including; Credit Unions, major social housing providers, local government and Citizens Advice Bureaux.

Derwent & Solway Housing Association, a member of Harvest Housing Group, act as the lead partner of the DRAMA project and one of its major objectives is to raise the level of financial literacy amongst the local community to empower them to make informed financial decisions.

Dawn added; “DRAMA continues to develop and grow around the needs and demands of its community in order to realise our goal of helping to improve residents overall quality of like through combating their financial exclusion.”

For further information call 01900 607550, visit www.handyloanscumbria.co.uk or talk to a member of the team at the Central and Hindpool neighbourhood management offices, Dalton Road, Barrow.

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