what we do

Currently millions of low-income households in Britain do not have access to financial services. To address this, we:
 

• Propose reform measures to develop a policy environment that ensures access to affordable financial services for all, particularly the most disadvantaged. Recent work in this area includes our call for an end to predatory lending (see Profiting from Poverty: why debt is big business in Britain), and recommendations to support the growth of community development credit unions that serve low-income households.

• Advocate for greater disclosure and action by banks and other private financial institutions to tackle issues of financial exclusion. We are currently working with Barclays Bank to explore ways in which to push forward the disclosure agenda.

• Research and support the growth and development of social investment and the community development finance sector as a means to increase the provision of financial services to all.

• Develop and pilot innovative financial products and delivery mechanisms that serve the needs of local people and their communities. These include the Factor Four approach to Ending Fuel Poverty, our work on community development credit unions and social venture capital.

• Provide training and consulting services to public and private bodies, particularly regional and local government, to raise awareness and knowledge of new financial mechanisms to support local economic renewal.

	join us
	Join nef online or make a donation

	nef newsletter sign-up
	Register now!

	clone town fight back newsletter sign-up
	Register now!

	related
	at nef nef discussion paper. basic bank accounts: the case for a universal service obligation
	Publications full disclosure: why bank transparency matter Profiting from Poverty: Why debt is big business in Britain Ending Fuel Poverty and Financial Exclusion

	contacts
	Jessica Brown