Although the "Debt Charity Project" won the Rotary club of Newmarket Akina social enterprise challenge two weeks ago there had been no opportunity to present Clemmie Baker from the charity with the $10,000 grant be made to the winner.
As noted President David took that opportunity on Tuesday where Clemmie presented to us again the video made in support of the application for funding. She also updated us on what she had been doing to get the project off the ground.
She told us that she is speaking to the banking ombudsman and seeking the support of the New Zealand bankers Association the charity underway on a pilot basis show that it can work. He pointed out that the charity is itself based on a successful charity in the UK “step change” which has been operating for some time.
Given the number of people who face financial difficulty this country the debt charity project would seem to be a viable alternative proposition for banks and other lenders to consider when faced with at risk lending.