The Black Country Housing Group (BCHG) has been honoured with a prestigious award for its determined efforts in tackling the menace of illegal money lending across the region. The housing provider, which manages more than 2,200 homes across the Black Country and Birmingham, has been named an accredited partner of the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) under the government’s Stop Loan Sharks initiative.
The recognition comes after years of close collaboration between BCHG and IMLT in raising awareness, protecting tenants, and building safeguards against the exploitative practices of loan sharks. These illegal lenders often target vulnerable individuals and families, trapping them in spirals of debt through extortionate interest rates and intimidation.
BCHG’s partnership with IMLT has involved training frontline staff to recognise signs of exploitation, creating a formal reporting process, and organising community events that warn residents of the dangers of borrowing from unauthorised lenders. By equipping staff and tenants with the tools to identify, report, and resist predatory practices, the housing provider is helping build safer and more resilient neighbourhoods.
The award also highlights BCHG’s wider commitment to tenant wellbeing. Beyond offering affordable housing, the organisation provides a range of services aimed at reducing vulnerability to financial hardship. These include free career development programmes, training opportunities, and employment support for tenants, all designed to help residents build long-term financial stability and independence.
For many households in the Black Country, the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis have left them struggling to make ends meet. Rising food and energy prices have created fertile ground for loan sharks to prey on families desperate for quick cash. With traditional lenders tightening affordability checks, those in financial difficulty can find themselves excluded from legitimate credit options, making them vulnerable to exploitation.
Against this backdrop, the work of BCHG and its partners has never been more urgent. Dave Benbow, head of the IMLT, praised the group’s efforts, stressing that its extensive reach within the community made it an invaluable ally in the fight against illegal lending.
“BCHG has thousands of tenants across the region, some of whom may be vulnerable and at risk of being targeted by illegal lenders,” he said. “By working with the group, we can ensure tenants and local communities are getting the message about the dangers of borrowing from illegal lenders and how to get help. We are so grateful to partners like BCHG for their support. This award is well-deserved, and we look forward to continuing our work together in the years to come.”
Adrian Eggington, Chief Executive of BCHG, described the recognition as a testament to the housing provider’s mission of supporting its residents beyond bricks and mortar. “As a responsible housing provider, Black Country Housing Group is proud to achieve accredited partner status with Stop Loan Sharks,” he said. “This recognition highlights our commitment to ensuring our customers are supported if they face the challenges of the cost of living. It is about safeguarding our communities and making sure no one is left vulnerable to financial predators.”
The England Illegal Money Lending Team was established more than 20 years ago to combat the rise of loan sharks across the country. Since its inception, it has supported over 32,500 people, written off more than £91.6 million in illegal debts, and secured 429 successful prosecutions against lenders who exploited the vulnerable. The team works with local authorities, housing associations, and community groups to spread awareness and encourage victims to come forward without fear.
With the support of partners such as BCHG, the IMLT continues to strengthen its outreach in communities most at risk. The award not only celebrates BCHG’s achievements but also serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to protect residents from exploitation, particularly during a time of rising economic uncertainty.
For the residents of the Black Country, the recognition of their housing group as a Stop Loan Sharks partner is more than a symbolic victory—it is a reassurance that their community is being actively safeguarded against one of the most destructive forms of financial crime.
