Help is at Hand

We are gearing up to another financially challenging time, Christmas. Whilst it is a time of joy for many, it can prove stressful to say the least which is where service providers operating in Thamesmead come in especially useful.

Whether you need help with finance, food or furniture, help is at hand with Fair Finance, Credit Union, Thamesmead Furniture Recycle and Thamesmead Foodbank. Between them they have helped many Thamesmead residents, from advice and guidance to supplying goods and loans.

Since August 2012, Fair Finance's Fair Money Advice Debt Advisor has provided free, confidential and impartial advice to Thamesmead residents who have concerns regarding debt, rent or mortgage arrears or who are experiencing financial difficulty.

Whilst Fair Personal Loans have supplied 151 affordable loans to Thamesmead residents in the same period, many of who were unemployed, on benefits or facing a County Court Judgement. Unlike banks, their granting of a personal loan is based on individual's needs, not solely on a credit rating or a computer's say so.

Trust Thamesmead also works closely with Greenwich and Bexley Credit Unions who can offer residents a loan with very good interest rates. So between them, Fair Finance and Credit Union give residents an alternative to those hefty pay day loan companies and door-step lenders who charge interest rates way beyond anyone's means.

Operating out of Trust Thamesmead's office in Thamesmead Town Centre, it is easy to book an appointment with Fair Finance, T: 020 8320 4470 or E: [email protected] Alternatively, contact Credit Union, T: 020 8855 4344 or visit W: www.greenwichcreditunion.co.uk

Thamesmead offers another fantastic resource, Thamesmead Foodbank, who are on hand to help those who, for one reason or another, are unable to meet those weekly shopping bills. It doesn't matter why you would approach them - it could be down to a personal crisis, sudden job loss, illness, separation or homelessness, no one in Thamesmead needs to go hungry, T: 020 8311 3976 or 07915 999 306.

Also operating out of Thamesmead is Thamesmead Furniture Recycle based at the Undercroft in Kale Road, DA18 4BJ (opposite St John Fisher's Roman Catholic school). Open 9:00am-1:00pm, Monday-Friday, residents can buy good quality clean, second-hand furniture and other household items at very affordable prices. For further information, T: 020 8312 9191 or E: [email protected]

Financial inclusion designed to meet the needs of residents who are financially excluded is one of the Trust's main priorities.

Trust Thamesmead's Community Development Officer, Linda Delieu said: “Times are tough for many and we want to let Thamesmead residents know help is out there.”

Please contact the companies mentioned individually or call us to make an appointment with Fair Finance who offer their services 9:00am-5:00pm every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from our office, 19a Joyce Dawson Way, Thamesmead Town Centre. Alternatively, if you are looking for debt advice, why not take them up on their new ‘first come, first served' booking scheme which takes place on the last Wednesday of every month?