K. A. D
Is there light at the end of the tunnel?
I was a lorry driver, but stopped work in 2017 to look after my mum. Then I had my first stroke. I was...
Credit
What is the poverty premium in credit?
People in poverty pay more to borrow money. This is because people on a low income are more likely to have a low credit score and therefore be seen as more of a risk to lend to. But for many credit is an essential service for smoothing out the ups and downs in income that we all experience.
Using high cost credit
Such as short term high interest loans
and credit cards
and credit cards
Give Me Some Credit: The Reality of Life Without a Safety Net
We partnered with the Poverty Alliance to show the harsh realities faced by people on low incomes who were denied access to credit during times of urgent need. We worked with 14 people with lived experience who took photos and wrote stories that depict the day-to-day personal impacts of being denied access to credit. The result is this gallery. Each photo and story reveal a unique perspective, from the stress of a household appliance breaking that you can’t afford to replace, to the anxiety of unexpected health emergencies.
What we're doing
Fair Banking Campaign
We’re calling on the Government to drive a step change in the provision of affordable credit. The Government should explore a UK-style Community Reinvestment Act, following the example of the US, to increase the availability of credit to those on low incomes.
No Interest Loan Scheme
Fair By Design has partnered with Fair4All Finance on the No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) pilot, the first of its scale across the UK. NILS aims to make credit available at zero interest to those who cannot afford interest payments.
It has received £3.8m in funding from Treasury and up to £1m of lending capital from each devolved administration. Pending the results of the pilot, we would like to see schemes like this rolled out across the UK.
News And Publications - Credit
Find all our our evidence, reports and consultation findings
Blog: How Soundpound’s Partnership is Making Transport Affordable in Greater Manchester
Date published: 05/02/26
Read our blog which shares good practice on reducing the poverty premium in Manchester.
Governance & Leadership Magazine features our Give Me Some Credit Exhibition (Paywall)
Date published: 28/01/26
We feature as a cover story as part of a wider look at widening participation.
Trump wants to cap credit card interest rates at 10%. Will it really work?
Date published: 14/01/26
Our Head of Policy is quoted in the Big Issue discussing interest rate caps.
Long-term measures to reduce energy bills and debt: A Joint Call to Action from Fair By Design and Rooted Finance
Date published: 17/10/25
We can build a system where no one pays more because they have less or…
Briefing: The poverty premium in credit
Date published: 26/06/25
Read our three page briefing on the credit poverty premium and our solutions.
We host Parliamentary event on financial inclusion and the need for increased access to affordable credit
Date published: 18/06/25
We hosted a parliamentary event with Fair4All Finance and the APPG on Fair Banking.
We launch new case study on local No Interest Loan Schemes in the North East
Date published: 03/06/25
We publish a case study showing how NILS help people avoid pay the poverty premium.
Can local No Interest Loan Schemes help low-income households to weather financial bumps in the road? A case study from County Durham
Date published: 02/06/25
Read our case study on NILS in county Durham.
I got a loan to help me pay for my dad’s funeral. The interest sent me spiralling into debt
Date published: 06/05/25
Our Give Me Some Credit project gets a write up in the Big Issue.
Real Stories
Our work is led by the voices of those who experience the poverty premium.
Scott’s story: When you’re young they don’t teach you about finances.
Date published: 23/02/26
Listen to this narration of one of Give Me Some Credit stories.
Guest blog: We tell our stories not for pity – but as a demand for change
Date published: 10/03/25
Read Zahida’s blog on what it was like to take part in our credit project.
Michael’s story: Give Me Some Credit – I Used to Be Cool
Date published: 19/02/25
Michael explains his battle with a debilitating mental illness.