A WOMAN from Tenbury behind a scheme to help people facing serious financial problems has received a national award for her community work.
Jane Newton set up the Tenbury No Interest Loan Scheme – an idea that she brought to this country from Australia. She has now been given a British Citizen Award for her services to the community.
The British Citizen Awards (BCAs) were launched in January this year to honour the incredible accomplishments of individuals in society who have a positive impact on their communities.
BCAs are awarded twice annually and recognise ‘everyday’ people whose achievements may otherwise be overlooked.
According to the citation Jane has dedicated her whole professional life to giving emotional and practical support to people, who not only have financial difficulties but personal difficulties too.
She started in Australia where she lived for 30 years and helped set up ‘TheNeighboursPlace’ where needy and often deprived people could go for help.
Although a No Interest Loans Scheme was already set up in Australia, Ms Newton helped bring the service into the charity.
In addition she has fostered 25 children of all ages and abilities, one of which she adopted and bought back to the UK in 2003.
“I feel very privileged and humbled to be honoured with a British Citizen Award - I just enjoy doing what I’m doing, helping others within the community,” said Ms Newton after hearing of her award.
The awards are supported by one of UK’s largest property management companies, Places for People, palletised freight company, Pall-Ex and leading law firm Irwin Mitchell, who each had representatives taking part in the assessment day and will be presenting the awards next week (July 9) at the Palace of Westminster.
“By setting up NILS my aim was to help the vulnerable and disadvantaged to resolve their own difficulties," said Ms Newton.
"I believe strongly in inclusion rather than exclusion, giving people opportunities that they might not have otherwise, and making a big difference to their lives.”
The Tenbury No Interest Loans Scheme was set up in 2009 and became a charity in 2013.
NILS enables individuals within the community to access financial support to buy necessities that otherwise would have been unavailable to them, without the worry of having to borrow off a high interest pay-day lender.
It works by enabling people to take out a ‘loan’ worth up to £400 usually for vital household equipment like washing machines although in some cases the ‘loan’ can be used for school uniforms and essential computing equipment.
Each ‘loan’ is not paid in the form of cash but as a credit that can be spent with a local shop or supplier and so it puts money back into the local economy. ‘Loans’ are normally repaid over a 12 month period.
There is no interest or administration charge and the repayments are normally spread over a 12 month period.
In extreme cases where repayment is not made money can be recovered from the borrower through the benefits system.