Residents in Milton Keynes can drop into a series of free summer advice sessions aimed at helping people recognise illegal money lending and find safer financial support.
The events run across June and July at community locations including Lidl foyers, larders, Wolverton Library and neighbourhood walkabouts. They are open to the general public, with no booking requirement stated in the source notice.
The programme is part of Operation Sharknet, with Milton Keynes City Council working alongside the England Illegal Money Lending Team, Thames Valley Police, SOFEA Community Larder and Acorn Community Bank.
Free drop-in support across Milton Keynes
The sessions are for anyone worried about money, anyone who thinks they may have been affected by a loan shark, or residents who simply want to understand the warning signs before a problem grows.
Advisers will be available to explain how illegal lending can operate, what signs residents should look out for, and what safer or more affordable options may be available. The format is deliberately local: support is being taken into supermarkets, larders, libraries and neighbourhood streets rather than kept behind office doors.
The first event took place on Wednesday 3 June at Lidl in Brooklands. Cllr Saleena Raja, Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships, joined partner organisations and the Stop Loan Sharks mascot, Sharky, to speak with residents and raise awareness.
Cllr Raja said financial pressure can affect anyone and that loan sharks often target people when they are at their most vulnerable. She encouraged residents who are concerned, or who want to understand their options, to come along and have a conversation.
Dates, times and locations
| Date | Drop-in details |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 3 June | Lidl foyer, Bletchley, 10.30am-1pm; Water Hall Larder, Fern Grove, Bletchley, 1.30pm-3.30pm; walkabout on Fern Grove, Melfort Drive and Torridon Close, 1.30pm-2.30pm |
| Monday 13 July | Lidl foyer, Blakelands, 10.30am-1pm; Rainbows Larder, Pepper Hill School, Kingsfold, 1.30pm-3.30pm; walkabout on Bekanscot Court and Runnymede, Giffard Park, 1.30pm-2.30pm |
| Tuesday 14 July | Lidl foyer and Wolverton Library, 10.30am-1pm; drop-in at Wolverton Library, 2.30pm-3.30pm; walkabout on St George’s Way, Green Lane and Moon Street, 1.30pm-2.30pm |
| Wednesday 15 July | Springfield Larder, Springfield Boulevard, 2pm-4pm |
The source notice describes the events as drop-in sessions. It does not list a ticket price, and the event brief identifies the programme as free.
What residents can ask about
The practical focus is illegal money lending. That can include understanding the warning signs of a loan shark, knowing where to get confidential support, and finding out about safer routes for financial help.
Residents do not need to wait until a situation has escalated. The programme is also aimed at people who are unsure, who are supporting a friend or family member, or who want to know what help is available locally.
The organisations involved bring different roles to the sessions. The England Illegal Money Lending Team works on loan shark enforcement and victim support. Thames Valley Police is part of the partnership, while SOFEA Community Larder and Acorn Community Bank connect the campaign with community-based support.
Confidential help is available at any time
The England Illegal Money Lending Team has been operating since 2004. According to the council notice, it has secured around 434 successful prosecutions, illegal lenders have been sentenced to more than 618 years in prison, more than £92 million in illegal debt has been written off, and around 33,000 borrowers have been supported.
Anyone affected by illegal money lending can seek confidential help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The source gives the Stop Loan Sharks phone number as 0300 555 2222, the website as www.stoploansharks.co.uk, live chat through the website, and WhatsApp on 07700 102773.
Source: Milton Keynes City Council
Source check Source trail
This article was built from the published Milton Keynes City Council event notice and the listed event schedule.
- Checked the event dates, times and Milton Keynes locations against the source text.
- Kept the booking status to the stated drop-in format.
- Included only support contacts and partner organisations named in the notice.
- Did not add transport, accessibility or booking details not provided by the source.
- Source
- Milton Keynes City Council
- Scope
- Milton Keynes
- Updated
- 2026-06-04 00:53
Source check
Report a trust issue
Send a clear signal to community moderation if the source, facts or context need review.
Article contextPeople & topics1#7
What do you think about this article?
Reader Ideas Newsroom
Have a sharper angle for this topic? Add it to the community idea board and let readers vote it up for editorial review.
/linkComments
8+ useful words can earn +10-60 DP; shorter replies can still publish without DP.