Good News Story Update: A helping hand for homeowners

3rd February, 2012

Emma McNeill, Five Lamps' Senior Loans Officer recently caught up with Joanne Boocock from Redcar & Cleveland, as the home improvement works on her home have now been completed

Joanne was first referred to Five Lamps from Redcar & Cleveland Council through the 'Helping Hand' scheme. The 'Helping Hand' project is run by all North East Council's and helps homeowners who are struggling to carry out repairs, essential home improvements or adaptions. 

When Emma first met Joanne in March 2012, Joanne had explained that she had previously taken out a loan from a doorstep lender. Joanne also explained that she had not had a freezer for over a year and did not want to get into debt again to buy a new one and could not get a loan from her bank.

Emma encouraged Joanne to apply for an affordable personal loan with Five Lamps. Joanne has now bought a new freezer and the loan from Five Lamps has prevented her from having to return to a doorstep lender and has therefore saved money in both weekly payments and added interest.

Joanne said "Five Lamps is a great organisation that helped me buy a new freezer without the high interest occurred that majority of doorstep lenders do charge. I would definitely use them again if I needed to"

Emma also supported Joanne to apply for an affordable interest free loan through the 'Helping Hand' scheme, so that essential improvements on her home could be undertaken,

Eddie Leck from Redcar & Cleveland Council said "I have just carried out a final inspection of the work this morning and Joanne is very pleased with the outcome. The main work carried out at the property included new uPVC doors, windows and porch; improvements and repairs to existing radiators and roof repairs to the main house, porch and bathroom. The original budget has been exceeded, in order to carry out unforeseen work, but there will be no additional cost to Joanne"

Joanne said "What a difference the works have made to my house, I’m so happy with it. I hope that my energy bills will reduce as a result of the work. There has been a noticable improvement in the comfort of my house and the condensation and mould growth in my daugther's bedroom has been eradicated. Thanks for all your help with everything, I really appreciate it”

Since the start of the Helping Hand scheme, Five Lamps working in partnership with all 12 North East Local Council's have supported 280 homeowners with affordable loans. 

If you are a homeowner that is struggling to afford essential home improvements work, the 'Helping Hand' scheme might be able to help. Click here to find out more.

February 2012

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Five Lamps have been working with all 12 North East Council’s to administer loans to help people to tackle home improvements, through the ‘Helping Hand’ project.

The ‘Helping Hand’ project is run by all North East Councils and helps homeowners who are struggling to carry out repairs, essential home improvements or adaptions. People may need advice to help them to undertake the works themselves, to give people the confidence to engage a contractor and tell them what is required. Financial help, in the form of an affordable loan and step by step support is available to people who cannot afford to pay for the essential works themselves. Click here to find out more. 

In Stockton, Five Lamps have gone the extra mile to help. During an initial meeting with one customer to discuss a ‘Helping Hand’ loan for home improvements, Emma McNeill Five Lamps’ Senior Loans Officer identified that the customer was struggling to make ends meet and wanted to return to work.

Emma chatted with the customer who said that as a single parent, she had struggled to find suitable work. The customer told Emma that she was thinking about starting her own business as a free-lance nutritionist.

Emma arranged for one of her colleagues in Five Lamps’ Enterprise Team to contact the customer. Five Lamps’ Enterprise Team worked with the customer to develop the business idea.

Another customer in Redcar & Cleveland was helped by Five Lamps. Emma met with the customer to discuss a loan for home improvements. The customer explained to Emma that they had taken out a loan previously from a doorstep lender. The customer also told Emma that they had not had a freezer for over a year and did not want to get into debt again with a doorstep lender to buy a new one and could not get a loan from their bank.

Emma explained to the customer that Five Lamps also offer affordable personal loans to financially excluded people. The customer was successful in applying for a personal loan with Five Lamps and they were able to buy a new freezer, which is being repaid over 12 months at an affordable rate.

In Durham, Emma met with a customer to discuss a ‘Helping Hand’ loan for home improvements. The customer explained to Emma that they had been struggling to make ends meet and was paying a high monthly payment on her mortgage. The only income the customer received was from her Disability Living Allowance.

Emma knew that the customer would be entitled to more financial support and contacted Durham Council for advice. As a result of Emma’s phone call, Durham Council have contacted the customer and since met her to review her benefits.

Emma said “Five Lamps staff always try to go the extra mile for our customers. It’s a great feeling when we go to a customer to help them with one issue, such as helping them to improve their home and then through chatting with the customer, they explain they have other concerns and I can refer them to my colleagues in Five Lamps or to other organisations to help them in other ways”.

April 2011

 

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