The Church Credit Champions Network will be piloted in the dioceses of London, Southwark and Liverpool and aims to “train up church members to offer responsible advice on financial matters”, according to a BBC report.
In addition, the report says the program will “encourage consumers to use credit unions rather than payday lenders” following the “Archbishop of Canterbury’s criticism of payday lenders in July last year”.
“We still see the effects of payday lending on deprived communities and the way they exploit people’s need for credit,” said spokesperson David Barclay. “We need alternatives.”
This is just another distribution channel to be mined for prospects – it is not the altruistic move it purports to be.
As cynical as this looks, hopefully they are truly helping people deal with financial pressures in these hard times.
I am very happy to see a church publicise performing such vital services in a parish. I hope they will be able to also inspire people to break dependency on credit, and put off luxuries until they can afford them. Modern society and modern marketing lists many luxuries as basic rights now. ‘The Joneses’ should be mandatory viewing.