Bob’s Blog: MALG update May 2023 (including NEW Member Engagement Survey)

MALG National Members Meeting 11 May – papers now available

Thank you to the 80 MALG National Members who we welcomed to London Transport Museum for the MALG National Members Meeting on Thursday 11 May 2023. The feedback both on the day and via social media/email afterwards was excellent.

Huge thanks to our sponsor CDER Group, speaker Isabelle Parasram of Social Value UK, Consumer Duty panellists Dominic Middleton of the FCA, Chris Leslie of Credit Services Association, Craig Simmons of Clear Consultancy Services, and Muna Yassin of Rooted Finance, and Energy panellists Vanessa Northam and Peter Tutton of StepChange Debt Charity, Gareth Wood of OVO Energy, and Peter Smith of National Energy Action.

All National Members should now have received a link and password to access the slide deck from the event.

Future National Members Meeting dates:

• 13 July (No.6 Alie Street, London, E1 8AN) – immediately after MALG AGM. Results of the new Annual Member Engagement Survey will be presented at this Meeting and released publicly thereafter.
• 21 September (via Zoom)

MALG Conference 2023 – book your place now!

It may be almost six months away but we have opened delegate bookings for the MALG Conference 2023, which will return to Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Thursday 9 November. Delegate tickets are held at last year’s ‘cost of living crisis’ prices.

Huge thanks to Intrum for signing up as headline sponsor for the 5th year running and to CDER Group, Dukes Bailiffs and Lester Aldridge for their continued support as sponsors. Intrum, Computershare, C&R Software, CDER Group, entitledto, Policy in Practice, Experian and Money & Pensions Service have also already confirmed as exhibitors. See more on sponsors & exhibitors here and contact bob.winnington@malg.org.uk to enquire about the range of sponsorship and exhibition opportunities available and how your organisation could benefit from them.

More information on the theme, programme and speakers is coming soon.

MALG Members Friday Forum update – Mental Health Awareness Week

This week’s MALG Members Friday Forum on 19 May at 10am will be Mental Health Awareness Week-themed with guest speaker Sarah Markham, Founder & CEO of Calm In A Box. Sarah will be joining us at 10.30 to talk about ‘Disrupting workplace culture through CALM for work/life brilliance’ and the activities that have taken place this week as part of CalmFest. 
 
Whether you’re a regular, have attended before, a National or Regional Member who’s yet to take advantage of this hugely popular member benefit, we would be delighted to welcome you on screen for an hour of informal, open – and usually lively! – discussions and debates on the latest issues facing those across the debt landscape. These discussions often result in tangible solutions and collaborative opportunities so don’t miss out.

If you want to share or discuss any particularly pressing topics, you can either join the forum and raise your virtual hand, or please email us on info@malg.org.uk in advance and we can arrange for you to introduce your topic to the room yourself.

Full details, including joining instructions and future dates, can be found here.

New Members

Welcome to our newest MALG Members Qualco, Opos, Rooted Finance and Pepper Advantage who join our fast-growing membership base of 166 organisations demonstrating their commitment to ‘working together to improve the lives of people in debt’. 

We have decided to hold membership fees for a third consecutive year to ensure that we offer the best possible value for money so if you are not already a Member, why not start taking advantage of the full range of benefits?

Need to make the business case for joining or renewing? Email info@malg.org.uk and we will do whatever we can to help. If there are any organisations or sectors you would like to see as MALG Members, let us know and we will look to engage with them.

MALG Regional Meetings update

Remember, if you are a National Member, you have access to all of our Regional Group Meetings. Please ensure you email us with your preferences should you wish to amend any regions specified on your original application and take full advantage of this membership benefit.

Details of all upcoming Regional Meetings, including MALG North West on 24 May 2023, can be found here. You can also suggest topics and speakers for them using the form here.

If you are currently not receiving regular invites to regional meetings and think you should be or want to be, please contact info@malg.org.uk to ensure you are on the mailing list for the relevant regions. Should you wish to contact a particular regional secretary, please use the following addresses:

• MALG South East: beth.forbes@fundingcircle.com
• MALG South West: bob.winnington@malg.org.uk
• MALG Midlands: sebrina.mccullough@financialwellnessgroup.co.uk
• MALG North East & Yorkshire: paul.bowden@wilkinchapman.co.uk
• MALG North West: info@malg.org.uk
• MALG Northern Ireland: sinead@adviceni.net
• MALG Scotland: frank.johnstone@brodies.com
• MALG East Anglia: info@malg.org.uk