Building Financial Inclusion in Leeds: Turning the 17% into a Shared Opportunity.

Recent research shows that 17% of neighbourhoods in Leeds are among the most deprived in the UK, placing our city 51st out of 296 local authorities for deprivation. As CEO of Leeds Credit Union, this statistic is deeply concerning. Behind those numbers are households struggling to make ends meet, families worried about debt, and people who feel locked out of fair financial services.

At Leeds Credit Union, we believe financial inclusion is one of the most powerful tools to break this cycle.

Understanding the challenge.

Deprivation is not only about income levels. It is about access and opportunity. In too many parts of Leeds, residents face barriers to affordable credit, a lack of access to financial advice, and limited confidence in managing their money.

We see this every day: people relying on high-cost lenders, families living without savings, and young people entering adulthood without the financial knowledge they need. Financial exclusion can deepen deprivation, limiting choices and reducing resilience when life gets tough.

What Leeds Credit Union is doing to help.

As a community-based credit union, our mission has always been to make financial wellbeing possible for everyone in Leeds, regardless of postcode or income.

We are taking action in three key areas:

1. Expanding access to fair and affordable financial services.
   
   We continue to provide safe, ethical alternatives to high-cost credit, helping people borrow responsibly and build financial stability. We are increasing our presence in communities most affected by deprivation to ensure that fair finance is available where it is needed most.

2. Building financial confidence through education.
   
   Financial literacy is essential to long-term wellbeing. We are working with local schools, employers, and community groups to deliver workshops, digital tools, and one-to-one support that help people budget, save, and plan for the future.
   
   Our goal is to make financial understanding a life skill, not a privilege.

3. Supporting financial wellbeing as part of community health.
   
   Money worries are one of the biggest causes of stress and poor mental health. We are partnering with local organisations and health services to integrate financial wellbeing into broader support networks, because feeling secure with your money supports every other part of life.

A collective effort.

Financial inclusion is not something one organisation can solve alone. We are calling on local employers, schools, charities, and civic leaders to work with us to make Leeds a financially healthy city where everyone has the opportunity, knowledge, and confidence to manage their money and build their future.

Leeds is a city with ambition, talent, and heart. But until financial exclusion is addressed, too many people will remain on the margins of that success. Together, we can change that.

Let’s turn that 17% from a statistic into a starting point for action.

Thank you.

James Brown, CEO, Leeds Credit Union.