On Wednesday 26th August, Derbyshire Community Bank joined Derbyshire County Council and Stop Loan Sharks for a day of events across Derbyshire, speaking directly with local people about savings, affordable loans, financial wellbeing and the dangers of illegal money lending.
Following our original events announcement, we wanted to look back on what was a really positive day for everyone involved.
Throughout the day, we had the opportunity to speak with members of the public and local staff about the different ways Derbyshire Community Bank can support people across the county.
A big part of these conversations was simply raising awareness. Many people still don’t realise that there is a local, not-for-profit Credit Union available to them, offering ways to save regularly, access affordable loans and improve their financial wellbeing.
Alongside this, working with Stop Loan Sharks gave us an important opportunity to raise awareness of illegal money lending, the warning signs to look out for and the support available to anyone who may be affected.
These conversations are exactly why getting out into our communities matters. Sometimes a quick conversation can introduce somebody to support or services they didn’t previously know were available.
One of our stops was Derbyshire County Council’s County Hall in Matlock, where we also had the opportunity to speak with Councillor Dan Price, Cabinet Member for Communities and Safety.
It was great to talk about the role Derbyshire Community Bank can play in supporting communities across Derbyshire.
Our conversation covered the support we can provide through savings, affordable loans, financial education and financial wellbeing, as well as the importance of preventing illegal money lending and making sure local people know where they can turn when they need support.
Dan Councillor Price was very enthusiastic about the work taking place and the potential for organisations across Derbyshire to work collectively to reach and support more people.
For us, that collective approach is incredibly important. No single organisation can tackle financial difficulty or illegal money lending alone. By working together, sharing information and being visible within our communities, we can make it easier for people to find the right support when they need it.
Our partnership with Derbyshire County Council and Stop Loan Sharks is something we’re proud of, and we’re keen to continue building on it year by year.
Days like this aren’t just about promoting Derbyshire Community Bank. They’re about bringing organisations together with a shared goal: supporting local people and strengthening our communities.
Whether that’s helping someone start saving for the first time, providing access to responsible and affordable credit, improving financial knowledge or helping prevent somebody from turning to an illegal lender, we want Derbyshire Community Bank to be part of that local support network.
A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to speak with us throughout the day, and to our partners at Derbyshire County Council and Stop Loan Sharks for making the events possible.
