Free Milton Keynes loan shark advice events this summer

Free drop-in events are being held across Milton Keynes this summer to help residents spot the warning signs of illegal money lending and find safer financial support.

The community outreach programme runs from Wednesday 3 June to Wednesday 15 July, with sessions at Lidl foyers, community larders, Wolverton Library and local walkabout locations. Attendance is free, and residents do not need a booking to speak with advisors.

The events are aimed at anyone worried about money, anyone who thinks they may have been affected by a loan shark, or residents who want to understand what illegal lending can look like before a problem develops.

Free advice in local venues across Milton Keynes

The summer programme is part of Operation Sharknet, with Milton Keynes City Council working alongside the England Illegal Money Lending Team, Thames Valley Police, SOFEA Community Larder and Acorn Community Bank.

Advisors will be available to explain how illegal lenders operate, what warning signs residents should watch for, and what safer and more affordable options may be available. The focus is practical: bringing conversations into places people already use, including supermarket foyers, larders and libraries.

The council said the first event took place at Lidl in Brooklands, where Cllr Saleena Raja, Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships, joined partners and Sharky, the Stop Loan Sharks mascot, to speak with residents and raise awareness.

Residents looking for the same practical details can also see this local guide to free loan shark advice sessions in Milton Keynes.

Dates, times and places to get support

The entry format is drop-in, so residents can attend a listed session during its published time. The source notice does not list booking requirements, access arrangements or transport advice beyond the named venues and walkabout areas.

Who the sessions are for

The events are for the general public, particularly residents who are under financial pressure, worried about borrowing, or concerned that a lender may be acting illegally.

Loan sharks often target people when they are vulnerable, and the campaign is designed to make support more visible in neighbourhood settings. The advice available at the sessions includes how to identify illegal lending, where to seek confidential help, and what other financial routes may be safer.

Cllr Saleena Raja said financial pressures can affect anyone and that loan sharks often target people when they are at their most vulnerable. She said the events are intended to show residents that support is available and encouraged anyone concerned, or anyone who wants to understand their options, to come along and speak to advisors.

Confidential help is available at any time

The England Illegal Money Lending Team was set up in 2004. According to the source notice, it has secured around 434 successful prosecutions, with illegal lenders sentenced to more than 618 years in prison. More than £92 million in illegal debt has been written off, and around 33,000 borrowers have been supported.

Anyone affected by illegal money lending is encouraged to seek help confidentially, 24 hours a day. The support contacts listed by the organisers are: call 0300 555 2222, visit Stop Loan Sharks online, use live chat through the website, or send a WhatsApp message to 07700 102773.

Source: Milton_Keynes Scraper