0:00:02 > 0:00:03Every day, all over the country,
0:00:03 > 0:00:06millions of people are struggling to find the cash they need
0:00:06 > 0:00:09to make ends meet or to realise their dreams.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13- 40, 60, 80...- Can I withdraw £500? - 50, 65.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15- Thank you, Lisa.- OK?
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Many struggle to qualify for high-street borrowing,
0:00:19 > 0:00:22making them vulnerable to illegal loan sharks.
0:00:22 > 0:00:27That first £100 loan leads to another, leads to another.
0:00:27 > 0:00:32But, there are a growing number of community banks or credit unions
0:00:32 > 0:00:34that are offering a helping hand,
0:00:34 > 0:00:38whilst at the same time supporting the local area.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41We are looking to offer you a loan.
0:00:41 > 0:00:4420, 40, 60, 70, 80.
0:00:44 > 0:00:45We've had our ups and downs,
0:00:45 > 0:00:48like any other family would in a family business.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50They gave me the option of what I could afford.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52I could actually live again and actually save again.
0:00:52 > 0:00:57From household emergencies, to kick starting a new life or business...
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Organic veg boxes!
0:00:59 > 0:01:02I am a bit nervous, but I'm still excited.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04It's like I'm getting married, it's crazy!
0:01:04 > 0:01:08..we're following some of these life-changing stories.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11It basically meant that something that I never thought I'd do in my
0:01:11 > 0:01:13life was actually going to happen.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15Without that help,
0:01:15 > 0:01:19the transformation to my life would have been impossible.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21So it's a win-win situation, really.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29Today, a loan helps realise childhood dreams.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33I couldn't imagine doing anything else, ever.
0:01:34 > 0:01:39How unexpected circumstances lead a mum of six to bankruptcy.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42Four of my six children have got additional needs,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45so they're quite challenging.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49And a loan helps a determined chocolatier reach out to royalty.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51I think if I was in Bruges,
0:01:51 > 0:01:56they probably wouldn't think too much about it, but I'm in Leicester.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02- How can I help?- I'm just here to apply for me loan.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Credit is a huge part of modern life.
0:02:05 > 0:02:10From quite a young age, I was relying on credit cards.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14New estimates show the debt of UK households will hit a record high
0:02:14 > 0:02:17next year, overtaking the levels of borrowing
0:02:17 > 0:02:19before the financial crisis.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21I was forking out 750 quid a month to creditors
0:02:21 > 0:02:25and I wasn't getting left with an awful lot of money afterwards.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29People who are unable to borrow from banks or building societies
0:02:29 > 0:02:32have been turning to high interest payday loans
0:02:32 > 0:02:34or even illegal moneylenders.
0:02:34 > 0:02:39What starts out as a small loan can soon become unmanageable debt.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Absolutely maxed out on every single
0:02:42 > 0:02:45bank account and credit cards and loans.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48I just started growing the debt.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50But there is another option.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52This one's supposed to be...
0:02:52 > 0:02:54And you're a member of the credit union, yes?
0:02:54 > 0:02:57Credit unions are not-for-profit organisations
0:02:57 > 0:02:59set up for the benefit of the community.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02Their popularity has grown to the point
0:03:02 > 0:03:05where UK credit union membership has doubled in a decade.
0:03:05 > 0:03:11That leaves you with a balance of £1,099.56.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13All the members are made to save,
0:03:13 > 0:03:19but 70% have savings and no loan and 30% have loans and savings.
0:03:19 > 0:03:20That has created a pool of money
0:03:20 > 0:03:23which we can on-lend to other people.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25Thank you very much, Mrs, you have a good week, yeah?
0:03:25 > 0:03:27- OK, thank you, have a nice day. - Cheers.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33There are over 400 credit unions throughout the country,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36including London Capital in Islington...
0:03:36 > 0:03:39London Capital Credit Union, how can I help you?
0:03:39 > 0:03:42..where Martin Groombridge is the manager.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44Well, he can trace this root back to 1962.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47It was operating from a metal tin in
0:03:47 > 0:03:49the back of a church in Fern Park in Hornsey.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54They've just over £12 million in savings and, interestingly,
0:03:54 > 0:03:5990% of our members said they had no savings before they joined us.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02It's about getting people to learn the habit of budgeting,
0:04:02 > 0:04:06taking control of their money, helping them help themselves.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Take care, thank you so much. Have a lovely day.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14Do you have your membership number, please?
0:04:14 > 0:04:19Visiting the Islington branch today is local council worker Alan.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25Although Alan has a job, he needs to borrow to supplement his income.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28I work for the local council.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32I still need a loan to get me out of trouble sometimes.
0:04:32 > 0:04:37I've been a member now for years, I think about seven to ten years.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Don't know what I'd do without the loans and the credit union.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44I would have had to go to loan sharks and people like that,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47who I didn't really want to go to, because you're paying double,
0:04:47 > 0:04:51treble the money. So they've really helped me out.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57Alan is looking for a loan to take his family away on holiday.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01I've asked for £500 and it's to go abroad.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03I've made an application, I've done it online.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07My holiday plans are to drive through to Spain
0:05:07 > 0:05:09and just relax for two weeks,
0:05:09 > 0:05:13and really enjoy the sunshine and get to meet the local people.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15I'm really looking forward to it.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25The person weighing up whether Alan will get his loan today is manager
0:05:25 > 0:05:27- Martin.- We always make it quite clear,
0:05:27 > 0:05:30it's not guaranteed that you're going to get a loan
0:05:30 > 0:05:31and this is a guy who, in the past,
0:05:31 > 0:05:33has had problems with getting credit,
0:05:33 > 0:05:35as many people do at some times.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38There are things that happen in your life, they're never guaranteed.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41Over the years he's had problems with paying.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45Other people have encouraged him into higher and higher cost debt
0:05:45 > 0:05:48and at some point he came to struggle with that.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52If I didn't get the loan, I'd be really upset, because, like I say,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55it's going to help us with our holiday,
0:05:55 > 0:05:57more so for the petrol for the car and all this,
0:05:57 > 0:05:59as my wife can't really fly.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02So I'm really hoping I get the loan.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05It's the moment of truth for Alan,
0:06:05 > 0:06:08who's about to discover whether his loan has been approved.
0:06:10 > 0:06:11Hi, Alan, do you want to come on over?
0:06:11 > 0:06:14- Yeah, sure.- How are you keeping? - I'm keeping all right, yeah.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17- Good. When are you going on holiday? - July, yeah.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19Marvellous stuff, what's this, you're spending money?
0:06:19 > 0:06:22This is me spending money, a bit of fuel and all that,
0:06:22 > 0:06:25and the tolls of course, in France and Spain, you have to pay a toll.
0:06:25 > 0:06:26Of course you do, on the motorway.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37What I thought I'd do with you is just go through your loan.
0:06:37 > 0:06:38- It's been approved.- Oh, great stuff!
0:06:38 > 0:06:40I've got all your documentation here,
0:06:40 > 0:06:42but I thought with you I'd just go through
0:06:42 > 0:06:43how we make the loan decision.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46- Yeah, sure.- Just so you know what we're doing, really.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49- Oh, right, yeah.- Regular payer and you have previous loans,
0:06:49 > 0:06:51you've always been honest with us.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54- Yeah, of course I have, yeah.- So that's how we've approved the loan.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56- Oh, right.- I've just printed off the documents while you were waiting.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58So that's the sum you're borrowing.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00- Right, yeah, that's right. - That's your existing balance.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03- That's it, yeah.- New balance.- OK.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05And then it will take 18 months to repay.
0:07:05 > 0:07:10- Right, yeah.- And the total interest is just £322.- Yeah, yeah.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13The main thing to remember is you can't touch the money in
0:07:13 > 0:07:15your first savings account while you've got the loan.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Yeah, yeah, that's been explained to me before.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20Yeah, I know. I have to tell you every time.
0:07:20 > 0:07:21Yeah, of course you do, yeah.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Sign that there, same place?
0:07:24 > 0:07:26Yeah. Remember, if you have a problem with money,
0:07:26 > 0:07:29just talk to us and we can sort something out, yeah?
0:07:29 > 0:07:32Great stuff! Thanks very much, and you don't know what it means to me.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34- Keep the missus happy! - Yeah, it will, it will, yeah.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36Like I say, we have to drive, so...
0:07:36 > 0:07:38- That's right.- I'm really looking forward to it.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40- OK, thanks ever so much.- Thank you very much.- Take care, Alan.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43- If you could give some of these out to people.- I will.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45- Colleagues at work.- I'll put them up on the notice board at work.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48- That's smashing.- Thank you very much.- Thanks, Alan, bye.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50- Enjoy your holiday. - Great, yeah, see ya.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52I'm feeling really great,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55over the moon that I was accepted and got the loan.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57It's a little bit of stress taken off me shoulders
0:07:57 > 0:08:00and I can go away and enjoy my holiday and I've got that little bit
0:08:00 > 0:08:02of extra cash if I need it.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05He's a classic example of how credit union is able to help people move
0:08:05 > 0:08:09from being a borrower into having significant levels of savings.
0:08:09 > 0:08:10He's now got himself really sorted,
0:08:10 > 0:08:13it's always a pleasure to see people move in that way.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17We're very happy and I'm sure we'll get a postcard.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19My wife will be over the moon, she was waiting for this decision,
0:08:19 > 0:08:21she'll be really happy,
0:08:21 > 0:08:24because she's the one who really wants to go on holiday, you know.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31While credit unions are there to cater for personal loans,
0:08:31 > 0:08:33like the one Alan needs,
0:08:33 > 0:08:38there are also responsible lenders across the UK specifically set up to
0:08:38 > 0:08:41help people who want to start up their own business,
0:08:41 > 0:08:44but find it difficult to get credit elsewhere.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47The high street banks basically all said no to me.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51I knew there was absolutely no chance of any of the high street
0:08:51 > 0:08:54banks giving me any money whatsoever.
0:08:55 > 0:09:00It's help from an ethical lender that's enabled 36-year-old Peter to
0:09:00 > 0:09:02transform from a bankrupt publican
0:09:02 > 0:09:04to the owner of a blossoming chocolate business.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12It is quite a random thing to have, to be honest,
0:09:12 > 0:09:13especially in this country.
0:09:13 > 0:09:14I think if I was in Bruges,
0:09:14 > 0:09:19they probably wouldn't really think too much about it,
0:09:19 > 0:09:20but I'm in Leicester.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24Long before Peter realised he wanted to work with chocolate,
0:09:24 > 0:09:27he knew he wanted to work for himself.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31My dad and my grandad were both self-employed kind of entrepreneurs.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35My dad was a painter and decorator and he started his own firm
0:09:35 > 0:09:38when he was fairly young - 20.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40And in the '60s, my grandad was an engineer
0:09:40 > 0:09:43and he bought a factory in our home village.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47So growing up, I've always wanted to be self-employed.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52Despite having an eye on self-employment from an early age,
0:09:52 > 0:09:56Peter had no idea what kind of business he wanted to go into.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01I left school with very, very few qualifications.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04Then went into bartending.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07Which then suddenly took over my life and I was...
0:10:07 > 0:10:09..I think within six months I was assistant manager there,
0:10:09 > 0:10:14working my way up. And did that for about eight years.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16Then went on to a larger national pub company.
0:10:18 > 0:10:19I was very naive.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22And around about 23,
0:10:22 > 0:10:28I signed a franchise agreement on a pub with a national pub company.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31It wasn't long before Peter's lack of experience
0:10:31 > 0:10:33stopped him in his tracks.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37And I was bankrupt within a year.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40Now bankrupt, Peter wasn't only a million miles
0:10:40 > 0:10:43from working for himself,
0:10:43 > 0:10:45he couldn't find a job at all.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48I must have sent 100 CVs out.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50It was rejection after rejection after rejection.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53And spent about two years kind of unemployed,
0:10:53 > 0:10:56just trying to work out what I wanted to do.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59Peter knew that if he was ever going to succeed,
0:10:59 > 0:11:02he was going to have to take control of his own life.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08I decided on chocolate through there being a lack of good
0:11:08 > 0:11:11handmade chocolate shops on the high street.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17We just went for a walk through the town centre and
0:11:17 > 0:11:24saw like a branded high-street chain of chocolate retailer and thought
0:11:24 > 0:11:27that I could probably do better than that.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31There is no handmade chain of chocolate shops
0:11:31 > 0:11:33on the UK high street anywhere.
0:11:33 > 0:11:38The larger national brands don't hand-make their products in store.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41They centralise at a factory and they are brought in and just
0:11:41 > 0:11:43retailed from the shop.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47I wanted to create something which was handmade
0:11:47 > 0:11:51in store at an affordable price.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Despite having a plan, Peter had never made chocolate in his life.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58I practised at home. I read some books
0:11:58 > 0:12:02and taught myself, using YouTube.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04I think you build up muscle memory.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09And it's almost second nature to me now.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12I don't even really need to be looking at what I'm doing.
0:12:13 > 0:12:14After about two months,
0:12:14 > 0:12:19I felt that I had a rough product that I could then use to build
0:12:19 > 0:12:23a business plan and pitch my idea for funding.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Having taught himself the tricks of his chosen trade,
0:12:27 > 0:12:29Peter now needed financial backing.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35Being bankrupt, I knew straight out of the gate that
0:12:35 > 0:12:38traditional high-street lenders weren't going to touch me.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40The computer would literally say no,
0:12:40 > 0:12:42pretty much as soon as I walked through the door.
0:12:42 > 0:12:47So I shopped around and kind of did a lot of research and I discovered
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Enterprise Loans East Midlands.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52Off the strength of an idea and a very basic business plan,
0:12:52 > 0:12:55they said yes to the idea of me being able to kind of work
0:12:55 > 0:12:59with one of their loan officers and get to the point
0:12:59 > 0:13:03where I could pitch my idea to their panel of trustees.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07I did take bribes of chocolate possibly with me.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10So that might have helped.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15First Enterprise is a not-for-profit organisation that supports start-up
0:13:15 > 0:13:18businesses throughout the East Midlands.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Suqvia is a loans adviser with them.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24The criteria is not discriminative to anybody.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27Hence why if you have a business idea,
0:13:27 > 0:13:28we encourage you to come to us,
0:13:28 > 0:13:30because of the fact that that could be the
0:13:30 > 0:13:33functionality of getting you out of unemployment
0:13:33 > 0:13:34into self-employment.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Or if you are employed and you think,
0:13:36 > 0:13:38"Well, actually, you know what?
0:13:38 > 0:13:40"I've got this cracking idea, I want to get rolling with it."
0:13:40 > 0:13:43We have no problems with that at all.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46So, yes, it is open for everybody.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49With a loan application of £15,000 granted,
0:13:49 > 0:13:53a delighted Peter was in a world of pure imagination.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56Do you know that scene in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,
0:13:56 > 0:14:00where he finds that golden ticket and then skips home?
0:14:00 > 0:14:02It was quite similar to that.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05But I had to go on a train to Nottingham
0:14:05 > 0:14:06and then get the cheque.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09It didn't feel quite real, because...
0:14:09 > 0:14:12..nobody would support me and then all of a sudden
0:14:12 > 0:14:14I've got a cheque for £15,000 to fund my project.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18That was spent on the fit-out of the shop, the lease, equipment,
0:14:18 > 0:14:21stock, marketing and PR, the brand.
0:14:21 > 0:14:26With financial backing in place, Peter's business soon flourished.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Winning a number of awards and doing so well,
0:14:29 > 0:14:33he soon needed to move to bigger premises.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36This machine is something we bought with some of the funding.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40We do get orders now for chocolates for up to 7,000,
0:14:40 > 0:14:448,000 truffles at a time that we need to turn around very quickly.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47And you wouldn't be able to do that just using small kind of domestic
0:14:47 > 0:14:50appliances and kind of smaller chocolate melting tanks.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57Peter's drive and passion have seen him succeed against the odds.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00I got told by a lot of people that I couldn't be self-employed again
0:15:00 > 0:15:03for a while because my credit was so bad that I'd never be able
0:15:03 > 0:15:05to kind of run a business.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Opening a business whilst bankrupt and having that on your record
0:15:08 > 0:15:11is kind of near impossible.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14And I like near impossible tasks, so...
0:15:16 > 0:15:19It's a challenge. And that's why I kind of just ran at it.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Peter has even received the ultimate accolade,
0:15:24 > 0:15:28being asked to present his confectionery to royalty.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31We were asked to make chocolates for the Queen
0:15:31 > 0:15:34on her visit for the Maundy service at Leicester Cathedral.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36When you've got two days' notice
0:15:36 > 0:15:39to make chocolates for the Queen,
0:15:39 > 0:15:43er...what do you make her?
0:15:43 > 0:15:45So, she's a 92-year-old lady.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50So we crafted a very nice butter salted caramel,
0:15:50 > 0:15:52which tastes just like a liquid Werther's Original.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54And that's what we served her.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56She enjoyed it, apparently.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Peter is now following in the entrepreneurial footsteps
0:16:01 > 0:16:04of his father and grandfather before him.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06My first business didn't work.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10So I tried again. I think that's the attitude of an entrepreneur.
0:16:10 > 0:16:11You just don't quit.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Peter firmly believes that with determination,
0:16:14 > 0:16:16anyone can do what he's done.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Once you have your idea, there's nothing stopping you.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21Nothing stops you.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Bankruptcy can't even stop you.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26I have literally gone from being bankrupt
0:16:26 > 0:16:32to making chocolates for the Queen within eight years.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36And who doesn't want to work with chocolate?
0:16:40 > 0:16:47There are 223 million credit union members in 109 different countries.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Have you already registered for access on the website?
0:16:50 > 0:16:53In the UK, one credit union supporting its local community
0:16:53 > 0:16:56is Lewisham and Bromley.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Founding member Liam works at the headquarters in Sydenham.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03We have a diverse mix of people who are in work,
0:17:03 > 0:17:05in between work, retired,
0:17:05 > 0:17:07we have families, we have mums,
0:17:07 > 0:17:11so we are all generations which is very important.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Of our current membership of about 10,000 members,
0:17:14 > 0:17:177,000 of them are female.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21Thanks very much. Thank you. Bye.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23Two of those members, Joy and Christina,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26have turned up to withdraw some money from their savings.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31We have come to get Granny some money that she's saved.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35She wants a new shed, so she's going to do that.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37I got my shed last month.
0:17:37 > 0:17:42So, yeah, we are great friends and we save together and do what we can.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46- Good morning.- Morning.- Morning. Can I help you?
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Yeah, I'm just filling out the form for her.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51- Filling out the form.- Is it for you?- Yes, please.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55- Have you got some ID?- Yes. - We've been friends for 42 years.
0:17:55 > 0:17:56I was a member first.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00She is a member. And then she introduced me.
0:18:00 > 0:18:01And we are enjoying it.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04I'm really, really enjoying it, you know.
0:18:04 > 0:18:09Joy and Christina also like to treat themselves from time to time.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Well, we like to go away long weekends...
0:18:12 > 0:18:14- Yeah.- We might go Blackpool.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16- Yeah.- We've been a few places, haven't we?
0:18:16 > 0:18:20Yes, exactly. Yes, exactly. We enjoy ourselves.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22Especially with the age that I am now.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25I have to be going out and seeing things.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27- Enjoying myself.- She is 80.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29She'll be 81 this year.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32So she's doing fantastic.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34- Yes.- 20, 40...
0:18:34 > 0:18:38Joy also has an eye on some holiday clothes.
0:18:38 > 0:18:39- OK.- Yes, please.
0:18:39 > 0:18:44- Thank you.- Lovely shoes and handbag and buy some shorts.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47No, Gran, you're not wearing shorts this year.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50When we go out on holidays, I have to wear some shorts...
0:18:50 > 0:18:53- No, Gran.- ..to show my big bum.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56I don't think you're supposed to say that, Gran.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01- Thank you very much. - Thank you so much, yes.
0:19:06 > 0:19:12Still to come, how a mum of six went from work to benefits to bankrupt.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15I felt like my whole world had fallen apart.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19And a loan helps a former classroom assistant set up her own nursery.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Hi, how are you doing?
0:19:21 > 0:19:23I wanted to create the home environment
0:19:23 > 0:19:27and that injection of cash allowed me to do that.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33Financially, a lot of us are living from day to day,
0:19:33 > 0:19:38with millions of people in the UK having less than £100 in savings.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41But you never know what life can throw at you.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45My mum passed away and her funeral costs
0:19:45 > 0:19:48were probably about just over two grand.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52When I lost my job, the money stopped.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54I couldn't sleep at night. I was crying.
0:19:56 > 0:19:57I was a motorcycle courier.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59Everything was going well.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02And then I had a smack up.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04I broke an arm, broke a leg.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07And that ended up with me not working.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10There are many negative life events that can hurt you.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12For example, a divorce, redundancy,
0:20:12 > 0:20:16maybe even just your car breaking down and having to replace it.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18Most of us are living just within our means,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21so that something that happens that's unexpected
0:20:21 > 0:20:22can actually tip us over the edge
0:20:22 > 0:20:25and mean that we start to struggle with money.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28That can be an unexpected death in the family, it can mean divorce,
0:20:28 > 0:20:30it can mean you lose your job.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36A rainy day fund can really help cover those immediate costs
0:20:36 > 0:20:38and outgoings in the first few months.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Typically, as a minimum, you would save about three months
0:20:41 > 0:20:43of your outgoings.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46But in an ideal world, we'd be up at six months.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49The key here is to make a start if you've not already.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51Even just putting aside £3 a day
0:20:51 > 0:20:55can really add up to over £1,000 over the course of the year.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57You never know what might be around the corner.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02When Stephanie met Paul at the age of 20,
0:21:02 > 0:21:07she had no idea of the path their lives were about to take.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10I met Paul in a Chinese takeaway.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13I was working. He was a customer.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16One day, I gave him my phone number.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19And then from there,
0:21:19 > 0:21:23we moved in a week later and got married 12 weeks after that.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25So, it was very quick.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27It's very whirlwind.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31At 20 years old, I got married to Paul.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33Then we had six children.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38We had our eldest child, Hannah, who is 19 now.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41Perfect child, textbook, slept through the night,
0:21:41 > 0:21:43was really lovely.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46Then along came Anakin, who was very poorly from 11 days old.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Taken up to London and put onto life support.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52Had RSV bronchiolitis.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54And he was really poorly and we didn't actually know
0:21:54 > 0:21:57if he was going to make it. But he did, he pulled through.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01And he was then diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05Two years later, their third child arrived.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09We had Theo. We subsequently found out when Theo
0:22:09 > 0:22:12was about eight that he also had autism
0:22:12 > 0:22:14and dyspraxia.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17And so they were quite challenging.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21And then very quickly after Theo, a year and 12 days,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23along came Charlotte.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Lottie, we've always called her Lottie.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29Also diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31She doesn't understand facial expressions.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34None of them do, but with Charlotte, it's far more prominent.
0:22:34 > 0:22:39And then Dominic come along, lovely, my little ginger ninja.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43And then along came Jake, who...
0:22:43 > 0:22:45It was quite evident quite quickly with Jake
0:22:45 > 0:22:48that he had some additional needs.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50And they diagnosed him with autism
0:22:50 > 0:22:52and I felt like my whole world had fallen apart.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56How could I have another child on the spectrum?
0:22:56 > 0:22:59With four of their six children having additional needs,
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Stephanie and Paul struggled to juggle the demands of home
0:23:02 > 0:23:04with their jobs.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09We would go into work and we would be called out of work.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12We would go back to work and would be called back out of work.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16We would have days where our son was so poorly that he would have been in
0:23:16 > 0:23:19hospital the night before and he would need support
0:23:19 > 0:23:21all through the day.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25And so we were unreliable. And it's not nice.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27You know, it's not nice
0:23:27 > 0:23:30turning around and saying to your employer constantly, "Actually,
0:23:30 > 0:23:32"I can't make it in because my child is ill."
0:23:32 > 0:23:38We tried and tried and tried so hard to maintain jobs and maintain a home
0:23:38 > 0:23:40life and it just...
0:23:40 > 0:23:43It really was evident that it wasn't going to happen.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46So we then both became full-time carers to our children.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52So that was really hard and that was actually probably the hardest thing.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56For three years, the family were forced to rely on benefits.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00It hit us, really hit us hard,
0:24:00 > 0:24:04we had gone from sort of a £2,000 to £3,000 a month income
0:24:04 > 0:24:07to £232 carers' allowance.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10We ended up declaring ourselves bankrupt.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Life had hit rock-bottom.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15But Stephanie had a plan.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Once her children had the education they needed,
0:24:18 > 0:24:23she was able to focus on getting off benefits and back to work.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25The only way we were going to do it ever
0:24:25 > 0:24:27would be to have our own business,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30because if we need to leave, we can leave, if I need to close,
0:24:30 > 0:24:33I can close, if I need to take a phone call,
0:24:33 > 0:24:35I can take a phone call and nobody is going to moan at me.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37With a diploma in floristry,
0:24:37 > 0:24:40Stephanie knew what the business should be.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42But with no savings and the bankruptcy
0:24:42 > 0:24:44having blown her credit rating,
0:24:44 > 0:24:47she knew she'd struggle to get funding.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51We couldn't go to the bank because we had been on benefits.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54We didn't have any idea what our monthly income
0:24:54 > 0:24:56would be on our business.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00We didn't have any massive amount of security.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04We had made a few enquiries like on a hypothetical basis
0:25:04 > 0:25:08and it was just basically a resounding no.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10Stephanie turned to Kent Savers for help.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16So, we approached the credit union for a loan of £8,000.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19And that was to consolidate debt that we had
0:25:19 > 0:25:22and also to put towards the business.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25Despite her credit history and situation,
0:25:25 > 0:25:28the credit union granted Stephanie the loan,
0:25:28 > 0:25:31enabling her to open a flower shop in Ramsgate, in Kent.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33PHONE RINGS
0:25:33 > 0:25:37Efflorescence Floristry, good afternoon.
0:25:37 > 0:25:42OK, so it'll be a £15 mixed bouquet with gerberas.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44All right, thanks, lovely. Bye.
0:25:44 > 0:25:49So the business started on the 6th of March 2016.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53So not very long. So just over a year.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56We started that in a little shed in my back garden.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59Which was really sweet, I did love it,
0:25:59 > 0:26:02but it became too small too quickly.
0:26:02 > 0:26:07So we took the plunge for premises
0:26:07 > 0:26:12and ended up here in July of 2016.
0:26:12 > 0:26:18The reality of, "Actually, we can do this," was exciting, terrifying,
0:26:18 > 0:26:20lovely, a whole range of emotions.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23And then, the reality hits
0:26:23 > 0:26:27that you've got to make an empty shell into your business.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32The first two weeks I remember thinking, "What have I done?"
0:26:32 > 0:26:36Oh, my goodness! There was like hardly any customers, it was like...
0:26:36 > 0:26:38There was enough work, but it was very slow
0:26:38 > 0:26:42and then after sort of two or three weeks, it just boomed.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46- Hello, lovely. - Can I pre-order a bouquet?
0:26:46 > 0:26:49- For when?- For next Wednesday.
0:26:49 > 0:26:54One year on, and Stephanie has many regular customers.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56I always come here for my flowers
0:26:56 > 0:27:00because she's so talented and they are amazing.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03- I like that.- See? And we can make it pretty but wild.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06If you've got a dream, you should go for it.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09And if anyone is going to show you that it can be done,
0:27:09 > 0:27:11it's going to be Steph.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Business is getting busier, which is lovely.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Home-life balance is getting better.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19- Which is good.- Hello.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22- Hello.- Look at those! They are gorgeous!
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Oh, my favourite colour as well. Look at that! So nice, so nice.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27- I'm glad you like them. - Yeah, I do. I do.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Well, you know what I'm like with my gerberas.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32They're beautiful. And I love the pink as well.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34The shop is just amazing.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36I'm so, so proud of her. It's been hard work.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38And she's done amazingly well.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41She's just like Super-mum, Super-wife,
0:27:41 > 0:27:45and Super-businesswoman because she never seems to get tired or...
0:27:45 > 0:27:47..and she's never grumpy.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50- Bye, lovely. Bye. - Bye, lovely. Take care, bye.- Bye.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56Getting the £8,000 loan has transformed the lives
0:27:56 > 0:27:59of Stephanie and her family.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01It's a massive lifestyle change.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05Not only financially, but also emotionally and socially
0:28:05 > 0:28:07and for wellbeing, you know.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11It covers all of them, because suddenly we are not just parents,
0:28:11 > 0:28:17we are not just a mum, not just a carer to our child.
0:28:20 > 0:28:25The credit union movement in England was started in the 1960s,
0:28:25 > 0:28:28when Caribbean immigrants found they couldn't get loans
0:28:28 > 0:28:30from traditional banks.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32They approached the mainstream banks,
0:28:32 > 0:28:35didn't have any credit history here in the United Kingdom,
0:28:35 > 0:28:38and they were getting an awful lot of rejections.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40Caribbean communities had a lot of established credit unions
0:28:40 > 0:28:42back in the Caribbean.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46So they said, "Why don't we start our own credit union here?"
0:28:46 > 0:28:49If you can afford 100, it is entirely up to you.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52We are basically here to help the community.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55We are for the people that maybe the high-street banks
0:28:55 > 0:28:57feel are too much of a risk.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00So we are willing to take that risk with these members.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04And, hopefully, maybe rebuild their financial history as a whole.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06Expansion was slow at first,
0:29:06 > 0:29:11but the last ten years has seen a massive growth in membership,
0:29:11 > 0:29:15as more and more people have discovered them.
0:29:15 > 0:29:19I really think that the credit union is there for everyone.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22And it's really doing good in the community.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25Thank you. You're welcome. Thanks.
0:29:25 > 0:29:32In Islington, Sheila is visiting her local credit union for a loan.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35About three years ago, I came to the credit union
0:29:35 > 0:29:40and I took out a loan to pay off a debt which was £1,800.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42I paid that off quite quickly.
0:29:42 > 0:29:47And when I saw that my savings was going up alongside the loan coming
0:29:47 > 0:29:50down, I decided to carry on saving and that's what I've done.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53And I've just watched it accumulate.
0:29:53 > 0:29:56Savvy Saver Sheila has a plan.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59I'm going to try and take a loan,
0:29:59 > 0:30:02because the actual interest on the loan is very low.
0:30:02 > 0:30:06I've made a loan application for 3,500
0:30:06 > 0:30:09and going to put that partly towards the cost of a car
0:30:09 > 0:30:11and the rest towards running costs.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13Hi, Sheila, do you want to come on over?
0:30:13 > 0:30:15- Yes, thank you.- How are you keeping?
0:30:15 > 0:30:17- I'm fine, thanks.- Good.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19Sheila currently lives off a private pension.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21But a loan from the credit union
0:30:21 > 0:30:24could open the door for her to go back into employment.
0:30:24 > 0:30:28I think having a car improves everyone's independence.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31It will open up more job opportunities for me
0:30:31 > 0:30:33so then I could start maybe
0:30:33 > 0:30:36looking at getting back into employment.
0:30:36 > 0:30:38We've had a look at your loan application.
0:30:38 > 0:30:39- Oh, fantastic.- It was for a car, wasn't it?
0:30:39 > 0:30:41It's going mainly towards a car...
0:30:41 > 0:30:43- Yeah.- ..and running costs as well.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45Have you identified what you are going to buy or...?
0:30:45 > 0:30:47Have you got your heart set on something?
0:30:47 > 0:30:50I'm not definite, but I've got a few ideas.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54- Not a Maserati?- No.- No, OK. Didn't think so. OK.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56Before agreeing to a loan,
0:30:56 > 0:31:00Martin needs to weigh up what Sheila wants against what he is confident
0:31:00 > 0:31:02she can afford to repay.
0:31:06 > 0:31:10People borrow money for a whole host of reasons,
0:31:10 > 0:31:14but often it's to get a brilliant business idea off the ground.
0:31:15 > 0:31:20That loan is like the first catalyst of a series of events that got us to
0:31:20 > 0:31:22where we are now.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24Not for the faint-hearted.
0:31:24 > 0:31:29When you see the end result, that's the real joy of it.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33These days, there are a number of not-for-profit lenders
0:31:33 > 0:31:37willing to take a chance and help make dreams come true.
0:31:38 > 0:31:43The money enabled me to branch out and expand and become the polished
0:31:43 > 0:31:45brand that I am today.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48There's no looking back. The only way that we can go is up.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55One such loan helped Vicky from Gloucester...
0:31:55 > 0:31:59Perfect timing. Hi. Morning, Jacob.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03- Good morning.- Hi, how are you doing?
0:32:03 > 0:32:08In 2010, she borrowed £15,000 from the Fredericks Foundation
0:32:08 > 0:32:11to fund the opening of her own nursery.
0:32:11 > 0:32:15Today we've got 49 children coming in.
0:32:15 > 0:32:19Our youngest is seven months, right up to five years.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22So we've got a baby unit, a baby room,
0:32:22 > 0:32:24a toddler room and a preschool room.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26And then later on in the day,
0:32:26 > 0:32:29we have some after-school club children
0:32:29 > 0:32:31that we collect from local schools.
0:32:31 > 0:32:37Vicky had dreamt of having her own childcare business for a long time.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40Well, that's a lovely rainbow on your T-shirt.
0:32:42 > 0:32:45My first feeling of wanting to work with children
0:32:45 > 0:32:48was at the age of about nine,
0:32:48 > 0:32:51at Butlins, and I wanted to be a holiday camp clown
0:32:51 > 0:32:55and do all the games with the children and run the show.
0:32:55 > 0:32:57I didn't want to be on the stage,
0:32:57 > 0:32:59I wanted to be the children's entertainer.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01Are they magic beads?
0:33:01 > 0:33:06- Yeah.- Yeah.- Whoa! I do like magic. - Like Jack And The Beanstalk.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09Like Jack And The Beanstalk, it is, isn't it?
0:33:09 > 0:33:10He had some magic beans.
0:33:10 > 0:33:12You don't have the same day twice.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16You never know what you're going to get when you come in to work.
0:33:16 > 0:33:18Everything with children is magic.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20Everything is new.
0:33:20 > 0:33:21Everything is fun.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25Let's have... It's a face! What does it smell like?
0:33:25 > 0:33:28- Josh, do you want to smell it? - HE SHRIEKS
0:33:28 > 0:33:31- Are you ready?- Yeah. - I'm going to get you.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33- Wa-hey! - SHE LAUGHS
0:33:35 > 0:33:40Vicky may not have had experience in business, but one thing she had a
0:33:40 > 0:33:43wealth of experience in was childcare.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45I started at 16, I was classroom
0:33:45 > 0:33:48helper in schools with reception year.
0:33:48 > 0:33:52Have progressed through the channels.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55Lots of small independents, small chains.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57National companies.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59Eight years ago, I became pregnant with my first child
0:33:59 > 0:34:04and it was just a turning point for me that if I was going
0:34:04 > 0:34:06to do my own thing then I needed to do it then.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09The next step for Vicky was to find
0:34:09 > 0:34:12the perfect place to start her business.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16I contacted a couple of local commercial letting agents
0:34:16 > 0:34:19and one chap turned around instantly and said,
0:34:19 > 0:34:22"I've got the perfect place, let me show you."
0:34:22 > 0:34:25And I met him here and fell in love
0:34:25 > 0:34:26as soon as I walked through the door.
0:34:26 > 0:34:31Armed with her business plan and the perfect venue,
0:34:31 > 0:34:34Vicky turned to the high-street banks, hoping to secure a loan.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37They turned her down.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40But she was determined to find a way to get her business off the ground.
0:34:40 > 0:34:45So I then went from the conventional method of bank loans to looking at
0:34:45 > 0:34:49actual business start-up loans and somebody recommended
0:34:49 > 0:34:52the Fredericks Foundation.
0:34:52 > 0:34:56The Fredericks Foundation is part of a community finance initiative
0:34:56 > 0:35:00that helps ordinary people that can't borrow elsewhere.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03Duncan Parker dealt with Vicky's loan application.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06We really loved the idea.
0:35:06 > 0:35:10We were very taken with Vicky and her idea right from the start.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13Vicky was both knowledgeable and skilled about
0:35:13 > 0:35:16running a nursery. She had done it most of her career.
0:35:16 > 0:35:18Her knowledge locally was second to none.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22And she had done loads of market research and background on how many
0:35:22 > 0:35:25babies had been born recently in the locality,
0:35:25 > 0:35:28what the nursery provision was like elsewhere.
0:35:28 > 0:35:32And she really backed herself to be able to fill those places that she
0:35:32 > 0:35:34needed to fill in order to have a successful business.
0:35:34 > 0:35:39Their limit at the time for new business start-up was 10,000.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42So I knew I was pushing my luck, going for 15.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46So I went in with my business plan tucked under my arm
0:35:46 > 0:35:50and sat in front of the panel and obviously shared my passion.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54And walked out of there with 15,000.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56She presented with a really good business plan,
0:35:56 > 0:35:59she presented with a cash flow forecast.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02A very realistic cash flow forecast, which is quite unusual.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05And that really convinced us that she was the right person to back.
0:36:07 > 0:36:11With her loan secured, Vicky wasted no time getting to work.
0:36:12 > 0:36:18The money went on the building renovation, the room creations,
0:36:18 > 0:36:21I wanted a separate sleep room, I wanted a separate dining room.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24I wanted to create the home environment.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27And that injection of cash allowed me to do that.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30Adapting the building from its previous life
0:36:30 > 0:36:33as a community social club was no easy task.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36Seven years ago, this was a skittle alley.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39This whole side was the skittle run.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42And the pit was that half of the kitchen.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45And then this half was carpeted with tables from the bar.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48ALL: # Please and thank you
0:36:48 > 0:36:51# I must say
0:36:51 > 0:36:53# Every day. #
0:36:53 > 0:36:57Now the room has been transformed into a bright
0:36:57 > 0:37:01kitchen dining facility and Vicky was able to hire a cook.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05Having well-nourished children is an essential part to kind of day-to-day
0:37:05 > 0:37:08running, so, obviously, if you've got hungry children,
0:37:08 > 0:37:11they can't sit and concentrate, they can't join activities,
0:37:11 > 0:37:13so obviously it has a massive impact throughout the day.
0:37:13 > 0:37:18Are you ready? Right, I'll put it there, you eat it when you're ready.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22Vicky's nursery soon became such a success
0:37:22 > 0:37:24she was taking on more staff.
0:37:24 > 0:37:28We started off with four staff and we started off with a handful of
0:37:28 > 0:37:30children, half a dozen children.
0:37:30 > 0:37:36And in a small town, it doesn't take long for word to get around.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40It's green.
0:37:40 > 0:37:44As the numbers increased, we regularly recruited staff.
0:37:44 > 0:37:49- Ready, Jacob? Go!- Splash! - LAUGHTER
0:37:50 > 0:37:53And we gradually put in place a training plan.
0:37:53 > 0:37:58Three of our senior management team now were trained by us
0:37:58 > 0:38:02and have gone from apprentice right through to management over the
0:38:02 > 0:38:05- seven-year period.- Shall we do the bunny black and white?
0:38:05 > 0:38:07Yes. You can do it if you want to.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09- Shall I do the bunny?- Yeah.
0:38:09 > 0:38:10Thanks.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13The nursery has gone from strength to strength
0:38:13 > 0:38:16and its success has brought some welcome benefits.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19With regards to the loan, I agreed
0:38:19 > 0:38:22to repay that over a five-year period
0:38:22 > 0:38:26and was actually fortunate enough
0:38:26 > 0:38:30to have repaid that early and we paid it within three years,
0:38:30 > 0:38:32due to numbers increasing
0:38:32 > 0:38:35and wanting to clear it as quickly as possible.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38- Bye! - VICKY LAUGHS
0:38:38 > 0:38:42With a strong and thriving business under her belt,
0:38:42 > 0:38:46Vicky is able to stand back and enjoy what she has achieved.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49- Are you ready? - They will all go soggy.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52Put one handful of yellow on there.
0:38:52 > 0:38:56- EXCITED SHRIEKING - No!
0:38:56 > 0:38:59To be able to just pop out of my office, see this,
0:38:59 > 0:39:02see the staff enjoying their time with them,
0:39:02 > 0:39:06and hear the children and everything,
0:39:06 > 0:39:09it just makes it all so worthwhile.
0:39:09 > 0:39:14Just all the risks, all the headaches, everything.
0:39:14 > 0:39:18I couldn't imagine doing anything else...ever.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30In Islington...
0:39:30 > 0:39:33Could you confirm your address, please?
0:39:33 > 0:39:36..Sheila is waiting for a decision on her loan.
0:39:36 > 0:39:41She is after £3,500 for a new car to help her get back into employment.
0:39:41 > 0:39:45A lot of people think that I come here just because it's an ethical
0:39:45 > 0:39:48choice, but I actually come to the credit union
0:39:48 > 0:39:50because it makes good financial sense
0:39:50 > 0:39:51to come to the credit union.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53And I think if you are interested about
0:39:53 > 0:39:58putting things back into the community, that is a bonus.
0:39:58 > 0:40:01This is precisely what she's done with the three years' worth
0:40:01 > 0:40:05of savings she's built up at her local credit union.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09We are one of the few, if any, financial institutions
0:40:09 > 0:40:12that encourage people to save rather than borrow.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14And at the same time, they know that those savings
0:40:14 > 0:40:18are helping other people escape from a cycle of debt and poverty.
0:40:18 > 0:40:22Sheila is about to discover whether her loan has been granted
0:40:22 > 0:40:26and she can get back on the road to employment.
0:40:26 > 0:40:28Hi, Sheila, do you want to come on over?
0:40:28 > 0:40:29- Yes, thank you.- How are you keeping?
0:40:29 > 0:40:31- I'm fine, thanks.- Good.
0:40:32 > 0:40:36We've had a look at your loan application.
0:40:36 > 0:40:37So...
0:40:40 > 0:40:43I'm pleased to tell you it's been approved.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45Oh, that's fantastic. Thanks very much.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48We're going to increase the payments slightly based on what
0:40:48 > 0:40:49- you put on the application.- OK.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52So, I'll just go through the loan agreement with you.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55So here's the sum of money that you're borrowing.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57- Yep.- You don't have any existing balance.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59- Yep.- It will be paid off over 24 months.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03If I was to make some payments extra on top...
0:41:03 > 0:41:07- Yeah.- So that I was paying it over 12 months instead of 24...
0:41:07 > 0:41:10The interest would be... No penalty. There is no set-up fee.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12There is no earlier repayment fee.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14The interest is calculated on a daily basis.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18So every time you pay an extra pound, the interest goes down.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20The idea is this is to suit your convenience.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23What makes it easier for the members is easiest for us.
0:41:23 > 0:41:24That's great, thank you.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26So, obviously the quicker you pay it off...
0:41:26 > 0:41:29The total interest is there on the whole of the loan.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32So it is a nice, cheap loan. Have a read through.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34- Yeah.- And if you're happy with them, you sign...
0:41:34 > 0:41:38- Sign there and there, please. - Sign there?- Yes, please.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40On both copies. I'll do one and you do one.
0:41:40 > 0:41:45One for you, one for me. You can top up the loan any time you want to.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47But if you do have any problems, there's a phone number.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50Just give us a call, we'll sort something out.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52Obviously, you'll want to come and see us...
0:41:52 > 0:41:54- Definitely.- Thanks, Sheila.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56- Thank you.- Good luck with the car. - Oh, brilliant.
0:41:56 > 0:41:57- Thank you.- Take care.- Bye.- Bye.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03It can be stressful, like any job, it can be very busy.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07On the other hand, you go home, just every day,
0:42:07 > 0:42:09knowing that you've helped somebody.
0:42:09 > 0:42:11Yeah, I'm really pleased. Yeah, and it fits in
0:42:11 > 0:42:12with my other savings plans as well
0:42:12 > 0:42:15that I've already got with the credit union, so that's brilliant.
0:42:21 > 0:42:22Since our filming,
0:42:22 > 0:42:26Peter has opened a new store in Market Harborough and is hoping to
0:42:26 > 0:42:29eventually franchise out his brand...
0:42:29 > 0:42:31Who doesn't want to work with chocolate?
0:42:31 > 0:42:34Vicky has started planning for nursery number three...
0:42:34 > 0:42:36SHE LAUGHS
0:42:36 > 0:42:39Bye!
0:42:39 > 0:42:43..and Stephanie's floristry business has won a contract
0:42:43 > 0:42:46to supply weddings at a major hotel chain.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50She's looking to expand and has found new, larger premises,
0:42:50 > 0:42:53so will probably be back to the credit union
0:42:53 > 0:42:55for another loan quite soon.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59There is a huge sense of achievement, of satisfaction,
0:42:59 > 0:43:02of pride, I guess, to a point because I have
0:43:02 > 0:43:04completely changed mine,
0:43:04 > 0:43:06my husband's and my children's lives.