New campaign to help financially untouchable people

A new initiative has been launched in order to help financially untouchable people (funts) gain access to vital services.

Minister for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Kitty Ussher, is spearheading the £12 million Champions campaign.

It will aim to ensure funts – a term that was created by ClearDebt to describe people who have trouble being approved for loans – can access basic financial services such as bank accounts, home contents insurance, affordable credit and debt advice.

The DWP is collaborating with key partners such as local authorities and social landlords to develop the programme.

Kitty Ussher commented: “It is vital that we work with organisations who come into daily contact with some of the people we want to reach.”

Such people are “well placed” to provide the sort of advice and support to those that need to improve their financial situation, she added.

Meanwhile, recent research by Unbiased.co.uk found that this year, debt levels rose by approximately £800 million compared to the second quarter of 2007.

By Jamie Price