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Cambridgeshire County Council is lending its support to a national campaign aimed at tackling loan sharks and raising awareness of where people can seek help.

The campaign is being led by the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) – a national team that investigates and prosecutes loan sharks. They also provide specialist support for people affected by this crime.

A loan shark is someone who lends money without authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). They often tend to initially appear friendly and helpful but can then turn to violent and aggressive behaviour to force victims to repay the loans with huge interest and extortionate penalties.

It’s not always easy to spot a loan shark as they come in many different guises and will at first appear friendly, just part of the community. It’s when you can’t pay that they will turn on you. They could be a regular from the local pub, a parent in the school playground or a friend of a friend.

Loan sharks prey on people at their most vulnerable. Borrowing from a loan shark can seem like an easy option but often it will lead to a vicious cycle of threats, intimidation and spiralling debts.

You will usually find these predators lurking in communities, but they also operate on social media, using dating sites and online groups to find, threaten and control people in debt.

Here are some of the warning signs to watch out for that a lender is acting illegally:

• Giving you no paperwork or agreement on a loan
• Refusing to give you information about the loan
• Keeping items such as your passport and bank card until the debt is paid
• Taking things from you if you don’t pay on time
• Adding more interest or charges so the debt never goes down
• Using intimidation or violence if you don’t pay
• Starting off by being your friend but quickly turning nasty

If you have borrowed money from a loan shark, it is important to remember that you have done nothing wrong and there is no shame in seeking help.

It may seem like a difficult step to take, but there is support available from the England Illegal Money Lending Team.

Credit unions are a safe and legal alternative than borrowing from a loan shark, find out more about the services on offer locally by going to www.findyourcreditunion.co.uk.

Why join a credit union?

✔️ Credit unions are not-for-profit organisations, existing primarily to serve the needs of their members and the communities in which they operate.

✔️ It’s easy to find a credit union that you’re eligible to join. To become a member of the Eastern Savings and Loans Credit Union, you need to live or work in Norfolk, Suffolk or Cambridgeshire.

✔️ Credit unions help members save and manage their money ethically and responsibly. They offer savings and loans at affordable rates, and just like with banks and building societies, your savings are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

✔️ Credit unions may be more willing to offer you a small loan if you have poor or no credit rating. Banks, along with other loan providers, may be reluctant to lend you money for this reason.

It’s easy to check that a lender is authorised before considering a loan by visiting the Financial Services Register online at https://register.fca.org.uk/s/

Residents who believe they may be involved with a loan shark or suspect that one is operating in their area can report it to the Illegal Money Lending Team by calling 0300 555 2222, emailing reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk or filling out an online form at www.stoploansharks.co.uk. Live Chat is available on the website between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

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The Parish Council is aware of concerns regarding the capacity of the Medical Practice and the ability to obtain appointments in a timely manner. It has invited the Medical Practice to its Council meeting on the 6^th April so that they can provide an update on the issues being faced by the Practice.

The Council will report back it’s findings but if anyone wishes to attend the meeting, please make the Clerk aware ahead of the meeting date, as for safety reasons, numbers may need to be managed.

The Parish Council now has three defibrillators in place around the village available for residents to use when needed in a lifesaving emergency situation.  These are located at the Pavilion, the Library and the Primary School.

The Council are offering free training for anyone who would like to learn about basic life support and using a defibrillator.  We have booked three sessions at the Ploughman Hall and anyone interested in attending one of the sessions should contact the Parish Council Office to book a space. These sessions are ‘hands on’, and not just a sit and listen session. Children are welcome if accompanied and supervised by an adult.

Sessions will be held on:

Wednesday 8^th June       –              7.30pm

Saturday 11^th June           –              10.30am

Wednesday 15^th June     –              7.30pm

The office can be contacted via phone on 01954 261027 or email on clerk@willinghamparishcouncil.gov.uk

The Parish Council has welcomed the use of the area immediately around the Ploughman Hall and car park for residents to exercise their dogs, particularly those residents who need a central place to park and somewhere to throw a ball etc.  Unfortunately, it has been noted that a lot of dog mess has been left in the area.  This is both unpleasant and potentially harmful to other users.  It is a popular area used by residents, especially children and the Council would request that if you do wish to exercise your dog in this area, that you clear up after them.

Sadly, the Recreation Ground is also being used by dog walkers who seem intent on leaving their dog mess for someone else to clear up. As the signage clearly states, dogs are NOT allowed on the Recreation Ground and the Council would request that residents refrain from walking dogs in this area at all.

Update from SCDC 21st February 2022

21 February 2022

With restrictions coming to an end in England, residents in Cambridgeshire are being encouraged to make the most of the spring and summer while continuing good hygiene practices which will help protect themselves and others from serious illness.

After a tremendously difficult two years there will be relief for many that life can return to normal, but local health chiefs are reminding residents that there are people with underlying conditions who are at risk of severe illness from COVID.

There are also still concerns that the protection offered by the vaccine could wane and dangerous new variants could appear, while the chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Adults and Health Committee has also expressed concern about the reduction in testing and is calling for continued vigilance by local people.

For these reasons, local health chiefs have outlined a list of simple and easy to follow measures to help keep everyone as safe as possible from catching the virus and potentially becomingly seriously ill.

The measures include:

• Avoid going to the workplace (work from home if possible) or meeting other people, if you have symptoms
• Please continue testing over the next month as case rates are high in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough especially if you are visiting vulnerable people or have symptoms
• Making sure indoor spaces are well ventilated (for example, by opening a window) and that there is an efficient flow of people in and out
• Letting people know they can use face coverings or screens if that is what they wish to do
• Regular hand washing and use of hand sanitiser which will help combat the spread of Covid as well as other infections
• Continuing regular cleaning of surfaces
• Getting two doses of a Covid vaccine, and the booster.

Jyoti Atri, director of public health at Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, said: “It has been a long and painful two years, so it is only right that after all the sacrifices made people make the most of the spring and summer months.

“At the moment, due to the vaccine, Covid is not causing the level of harm that we have seen with previous waves, although it is still a risk to vulnerable people and we need to be prepared if this situation changes due to immunity waning or a new and dangerous variant.”

Cllr Richard Howitt, chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Adults and Health Committee, said: “I remain concerned that the impact of reduced testing could jeopardise the progress made and make it more difficult to identify new variants. The scientific evidence to support these decision has not been published in advance.

“I hope local people will choose to continue to isolate where they have symptoms, use face masks and take-up all opportunities for vaccination. The county council is deeply grateful to all our staff, the volunteers and local residents who have helped us get to this stage and we ask for continued vigilance by all of us to continue.”

Further information on the Government announcement can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-living-with-covid-19

Anyone yet to get both doses of a Covid vaccine, or their booster, can find out where they can jabbed at: https://www.thevaccinators.co.uk/.

Details on how to obtain lateral flow tests can be found at: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-rapid-community-testing.

Why not sign up for the free session below and find out what’s involved and what your local Council does.

Alternatively, please feel free to call or visit the Parish Office for an informal chat.