New Vic Borderlines Project – highlights dangers of loan sharks

New Vic Borderlines’ latest project #IJustNeededCash aims to raise awareness of the risks of loan sharks after reports of unregulated money lenders targeting vulnerable people in North Staffordshire.

New Vic Borderlines have teamed up with Aspire Housing, The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT), Staffordshire North & Stoke-on-Trent Citizens Advice and Ethan Lemon Art as part of the national Stop Loan Sharks campaign, to address the problem of unregulated money lenders that prey on vulnerable people and charge extremely high interest rates, known as ‘loan sharks’.

Loan sharks often resort to using harassment, intimidation, threats and violence to pressure people into paying back loans, and this new play will inform people about what to do if they are suffering at the hands of one.

Performances of the documentary-drama #IJustNeededCash have taken place at Keele Chapel and the New Vic Theatre and several more are taking place at a range of community venues and schools across the region throughout November 2021.

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The performance stars Vaneeka Dadhria (Unite: It’s Not As Simple As Black and White for New Vic Borderlines), Perry Moore (Hoard: Rediscovered and Robin and Marian, New Vic) and Melanie Osborne (community company of Brassed Off and Votes for Women, New Vic). (Main image).

A wall mural will be installed in Hanley, and a series of online and face-to-face events will also take place, to complement the drama.

#IJustNeededCash is a partnership project to Stop Loan Sharks with New Vic Theatre, Aspire Housing, North Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Citizens Advice Bureau and Potteries Moneywise, funded by The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT).