A financial centre in Kilburn has opened its doors at weekends in a bid to help residents with their financial worries.

Kilburn’s Financial Health Centre located inside the health Heart Centre on Kilburn High Road is run by community activists concerned about rise of controversial payday loan companies.

Community volunteers that operate the centre range from members of St Luke’s Church and the Somali Cultural Centre at Kingsgate Community Centre to neighbourhood watch residents.

Jacky Peacock, from Advice4Renters, which runs Brent Mutual, the Brent branch of Hillingdon Credit Union, said: “Where people really do need a loan to help them through a difficult patch, we will invite them to join one of the local Credit Unions.”

“Credit Unions lend responsibly, which means that they will not add to people’s debts if they can see that they could not afford to repay the loan, but if we can show people how to budget to allow for repayments, loans can be considered, at interest rates that are a tiny fraction of what people have to pay elsewhere,” she added.

For more information call the centre on 020 7624 4327.