A Matter of Life and Debt

In London, a community land trust is trying to combat the housing crisis. Set up and run by ordinary people who fix house prices in relation to what people actually earn, it’s trying to prevent locals from being priced out of the neighbourhoods they call home. An ethical loan is the icing on the cake for 32-year-old Pia, who runs an award-winning artisan cake business in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Pia began selling her cakes at markets and fairs but needed £5,000 to get her own vehicle for the business. The Fredericks Foundation lent her the money, and the bakery has continued to rise. And Newport credit union in south Wales has a unique member, Ernie the labrador. Owner Maureen has been saving for Ernie since he got sick and was saddled with expensive vet bills. She now saves whatever she can in case he falls ill again.