A SESSION is being held at Newton Community Centre to highlight the misery caused by illegal money lenders.

The Save Smart with Smiley anti-loan shark campaign is being spearheaded by members of Wargrave Big Local who are working with other agencies across St Helens to communicate the message ‘it’s just not worth it’.

Loan Sharks are illegal money lenders who offer quick cash to those in need but it comes at a high price. They charge cripplingly high rates of interest, which are often impossible to pay back.

Now the Wargrave Big Local team has joined forces with St Helens Trading Standards, Citizens Advice St Helens and the national Illegal Money Lending Team to raise awareness about the scourge of the sharks.

The Big Local will be using its base at Newton Community Centre to host a week-long series of events aimed at giving people the information and advice they need to say ‘no’ to the sharks.

Louise Forshaw, who is chair of the Wargrave Big Local Partnership, said: “Loan Sharks prey on vulnerable members of society who are in desperate circumstances and feel they have no-one else to turn to. In reality, loan sharks charge vast rates of interest that are impossible to pay back. It traps the victim in a cycle of debt that they cannot get out of.”

Louise adds: “They may seem nice and willing to help at first but if you cannot pay back the loan they can become aggressive and threatening. There have even been reports of people being harassed and attacked by loan sharks.”

“We want everyone in Wargrave to know that there is always an alternative to loan sharks. If you are worried about debt there are a number of agencies you can talk to who may be able to help.”

On Thursday October 19, a representative from the Illegal Money Lending Team, will host a special session at Newton Community Centre, Park Road South from 11am onwards. It is anticipated that as many as 70 people will attend the workshop, which will include a special visit from the Illegal Money Lending Team’s mascot Glenda the Lender.

Wargrave Big Local already provides local residents with top notch financial advice through regularly fortnightly drop-in sessions in partnership with Citizens Advice.

The sessions provide support and advice on all money matters including welfare, benefits and debt.

Jeanne Dentith, who chairs Wargrave Big Local’s Financial Inclusion Sub Group added: “It’s really important that local people feel confident about money and are not afraid to ask for support and advice if they are in difficult circumstances. The message is - you don’t have to suffer in silence and no matter how difficult things are, never go to a loan shark.”

“This is why we want as many members of our community as possible to get involved in our Save Smart with Smiley sessions and find out more. We will be providing residents with a tool kit to help them stay out of debt through budgeting, saving and making better choices when they do need to borrow. We want to give people the power to say no to the sharks and report them to Trading Standards.”

Anyone who is a vivtim of loan sharks can call 0300 555 2222 or visit stoploansharks.uk.