With the current difficulties of accessing mainstream banking services and loans, many people find themselves taking out loans with interest rates of 180% APR and over. However, Newlon Fusion supports credit unions that offer loans at between 12% and 20% and seek to extend access to debt advice for Newlon residents.

Find out more about our programmes by clicking on the links below:
Meet a Financial Service Authority Money Expert
Fair Finance
Matched saving scheme
Greener living
Energy doctor

Meet a Financial Service Authority Money Expert

Newlon residents in Islington, Hackney and Tower Hamlets can now book free one-to-one sessions with an expert money guide.

Moneymadeclear, from the Financial Services Authority, is a new service which provides information and guidance about a wide range of money issues including:

• Budgeting for the long or short term.
• Benefits and tax.
• Bank accounts.
• Insurance and protection.
• Saving and borrowing.
• Retirement planning.

You can book an advice session for a morning or afternoon session. Morning sessions run from 9am to 12pm and afternoon sessions are from 2pm to 5pm. Please allow one hour for your session.

For your convenience, your advice session can be booked at any of the following venues:

• John Scurr Community Centre, 1a Bekesbourne Street, E14 7JQ.
• Barnsbury Estate Community Centre, 12 Carnegie Street, N1 0FE.
• Newlon Housing Trust, Newlon House, 204 Hoxton Street, N1 5LH.

To book your free, confidential session with a money guide contact Ketra Najjingo at Newlon Fusion, on 020 7033 4572.

You can find out more about Moneymadeclear by visiting www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk.

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Fair Finance

Newlon have linked with Fair Finance, a local not for profit organisation, to help you with your finances and to help prevent possible probelms with debt and arrears. Through this partnership you can receve debt counselling and one to one money advice absolutely FREE!

For more information, please contact Ketra Najjingo on 020 7033 4572 or email knajjingo@newlonfusion.org.uk. You can also contact Fair Finance directly on 020 7780 1777 or 020 7254 1976. They have offices in Stepney, Dalston, Islington and Redbridge.

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Matched saving scheme –
Open a savings account and we will give you money!

Islington Residents: If you open a savings account with Islington and City Credit Union and you save no less than £5 per week or at least £20 per month for three consecutive months, Newlon will credit your account with £60. If your children open a Young Savers Account with the credit union, Newlon will give them £10 for their account as long as they save no less than £2.50 per week or £10 per month for three consecutive months.

Tower Hamlets Residents: If you open a savings account with Tower Hamlets Community Credit Union and you save no less than £5 per month for ten consecutive months, Newlon will put £50 into your credit union account. If your children open a Young Savers Account with the credit union for over a year, Newlon will credit that account with £10.

For more information call Ketra Najjingo at Newlon Fusion on 020 7033 4572 or email knajjingo@newlonfusion.org.uk.

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Greener living – get involved and see how much you can save!

This is a brilliant opportunity for you to receive a free home visit from Global Action Plan who will give you free energy efficiency advice tailored to your home, as well as free energy efficiency measures such as an energy monitor.

Sign up now to get your free home visit by calling Ketra Najjingo on 020 7033 4572 or email knajjingo@newlonfusion.org.uk.
Case study

Last year the Greener Newlon project involved residents taking part in workshops with Global Action Plan over a period of 6 months, to see how much money they could save after receiving a personal action plan. After receiving advice and energy saving devices such as smart meters, one resident managed to reduce her electricity usage by 78 kWhs a month, which would save her an estimated £232 per year on her energy bills!

How George benefitted… George Beckwith (shown right with Ketra Najjingo) was one of the participants from Tower Hamlets who won a note book and plant pot made from recycled materials for his dedication to the programme. He really made an effort to come to meetings and really tried to enforce the methods to improve his energy efficiency, which has helped him reduce his energy bills. We asked him what energy saving means to him:

What energy saving techniques have you learnt?
“That if you turn thermostats down, fill the kettle with only the amount of water you need it doesn’t affect your daily life.”

What techniques were easy to implement and which ones were more time consuming and difficult?
“They were all easy. The central heating thermostat, changing to energy saving light bulbs, switching standby appliances off were all easy including the radiator panels, radiator booster, draught excluders, even the shower timer was fun to use. Overall there weren’t any time consuming energy saving devices.”

What techniques do you think saved you the most energy and were the most worthwhile?
“Radiator panels worked best for me.”

Have you noticed a difference in your energy usage and bills?
“I have noticed a small difference and every little helps.”

Did you enjoy learning about being more 'green' and has your outlook on the environment and how we treat it changed?
“Yes. Newlon Fusion brought a new edge to being green and saving energy - much more than a newspaper or TV advert.”

Will you continue to make use of energy saving initiatives in your home, and if so why?
“Yes I will continue to be an energy saver - saving the planet and money gives me a buzz.”

Finally, would you encourage others to be more energy efficient?
“I would definitely encourage others to be more energy efficient. I started with a family get together to tell them how to get started.”

Thanks to the campaign George managed to get help from his energy provider, British Gas, in getting his loft insulated at a reduced rate. Make sure you contact your provider to see if they can help you get the same.

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Energy Doctor

For residents in Islington
Energy Doctor in the Home (EDH) is an Islington based project run by Groundwork UK.EDH can make free house calls to our residents in Islington to help reduce your energy consumption, tackle fuel poverty and reduce your CO2 emissions by offering speciallist and personalised energy advice and energy saving devices to help you save money on your energy bills. Through the energy doctor you will learn:

• how to understand energy tariffs.
• how to switch supplier.
• how to understand heating controls.
• how to set timers.
• about grants available for larger measures such as loft insulation.
• how to understand energy bills.
• about damp and mould.

If you sign up and assessor will come and see you and document the technical measures you may require such as radiator panels. This will be followed up by a visit from a technician who will install the technical measures.

If you would like a free visit from an Energy Doctor please contact Ketra Najjingo at Newlon Fusion on 020 7033 4572 or email her at knajjingo@newlonfusion.org.uk.

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