With so many challenges facing our clients and customers at this time, it is even more important for us to provide as many opportunities as possible for those from across the money advice and credit landscape to share information and discuss key topics.

The MALG Virtual Connect 2022 is now just over two weeks away and we are close to finalising the programme with the confirmation of panelists for the timely session on ‘Debt Advice in an Age of Inflation‘ (see below).

The event is designed to offer delegates the opportunity to ‘step back from the day job’ to discuss hot topics and network with others from across the whole debt landscape as part of our aim of ‘working together to improve the lives of people in debt’, particularly in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Theme: ‘Where are we now?: Two years into the pandemic (and one year on from the first MALG Virtual Connect)’.

Programme:

09:00 – 09:10  Welcome and informal networking
09:10 – 09:30  Introduction to the MALG Virtual Connect
09:30 – 09:45  Update from Liz Barclay (Small Business Commissioner)
09:45 – 10:15  Keynote: Financial Education Initiative – John Pears (UK CEO, Lowell)
10:15 – 11:00   Financial Literacy Panel Discussion – John Pears (UK CEO, Lowell), Mick McAteer (Chair Registry Trust and Financial Inclusion Centre), and Joe Shalam (Policy Director, Centre for Social Justice)
11:00 – 11:15  Comfort Break / Networking Time
11:15 – 12:15  Breakout Sessions 1:

• 1a: Debt Collection in an Age of Inflation – Gareth McNab (Director Of External Affairs, Christians Against Poverty) and Peter Gent (Sales Director, Credit Resource Solutions)
• 1b: Enabling Better Debt Solutions Through Tech – Ryan Hayes and Lee Usher (COO and Credit Services Director, Trustfolio Ltd)

12.15 – 12.30  ‘Breaking News’
12:30 – 13:30  Lunchtime and Networking opportunities
13:30 – 14:30  Breakout Sessions 2:

• 2a: Debt Advice in an Age of Inflation – Peter Tutton (Head of Policy, StepChange), Paul Mason (CEO, Creditfix), and Sara Williams (Debt Camel)
• 2b: Impacts and Updates following the Pandemic – Mel Chell and Laura Cronin (Director of Client Experience and Culture and Learning and Development Manager, Equivo) and Lauren Long and Vanesha Seetal (Ombudsman Leader and Policy and Communications Adviser, Financial Ombudsman Service) 

14:30 – 15:00  Round-up Discussion, Summary, and Close.

If you are interested in speaking or discussing sponsorship opportunities, please contact bob.winnington@malg.org.uk.

As promised, our next National Members Meeting will be a face-to-face event following a two-year stint on Zoom. Thanks to sponsorship from CDER Group, we are excited to announce that it will be held at the London Transport Museum!

Lunch will be provided and all delegates will receive free entry to the Museum to take a look around after the Meeting. MALG National Members will receive details of how to register for FREE soon.

The fortnightly MALG Friday Forum is still going strong. Whether you’re a regular, have attended before, or are a National or Regional Member who’s never taken advantage of this member benefit, why not join us this Friday at 10am?

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 can be found here.

As another membership benefit we have managed to access a 15% discount code for MALG Members on passes for the Credit Summit 2022 on 23 March (the day before MALG Virtual Connect during Credit Week and Debt Awareness Week). Members will receive an email with further details and the code soon.

Remember, if you are a National Member, you have access to some or all of our Regional Group Meetings so please take advantage of this membership benefit.

Details of all upcoming regional meetings, including MALG Midlands on 9 March, MALG Scotland on 22 March and MALG East Anglia on 6 April, can be found at www.malg.org.uk/events. The next MALG South West Meeting on 15 June will take place as a face-to-face at Computershare in Bristol, more details coming soon.

If you aren’t currently being invited to regional meetings and think you should be/want to be, please contact the relevant regional secretary:

• 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: joanne.brookes@bridgewaterfinancegroup.co.uk
• MALG Northern Ireland: sinead@adviceni.net
• MALG Scotland: frank.johnstone@brodies.com
• MALG East Anglia: info@malg.org.uk