Three Hands and The England Illegal Money Lending team explored the experiences of Lived Experts who have borrowed from Illegal Money lenders, and not reported them.
We are proud to share A Community of Silence, a powerful new report published by the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) exploring the lived experiences of those affected by illegal money lending.
This report shines a light on the fear, shame and isolation experienced by people who have borrowed from loan sharks- and the widespread gaps and failures that left them with nowhere else to turn. It focuses on those who didn’t reach out for support from organisations like the IMLT, exploring why they didn’t seek help, and what might have made a difference.
A huge thank you to the England Illegal Money Lending Team for commissioning this research and for their commitment to understanding the lived experiences behind the issue.
We are particularly grateful to the Three Hands Lived Experts who trusted us with their stories, sharing deeply personal experiences which were often challenging or traumatic. Their voices are at the heart of this report and will help shape how more people can be reached.