INVITATION
MARGINALISATION AND EXCLUSION NETWORK MEETING
14TH-15TH SEPTEMBER, LONDON, HOSTED BY THE FREE CHURCHES GROUP (UK MEMBER)
Updated June 2015
Dear members,
Eurodiaconia is pleased to invite you to the 2015 Marginalisation and Exclusion network meeting due to take
place in London (UK) on 14-15 September 2015. It will be hosted by the Free Churches Group on 27 Tavistock
Square, London WC1H 9HH.
This year’s meeting will focus on over indebtedness and how Eurodiaconia members can develop their work
on debt counselling including debt restructuring and credit unions. The purpose of the meeting is to provide
a forum for members to share experiences and good practice, identify the challenges they face as well as
discuss potential solutions and opportunities for development. This includes discussing what political solutions
could be found at national and European level to address increasing levels of over-indebtedness.
The meeting will be based on group work, input from members, Eurodiaconia staff and external contributors.
It will include a study visit to a project from a member organisation of the Free Churches Group in London. It
will also consist of best practices sharing through members’ presentations and exchanges.
Who can participate?
The meeting is open to all those working in Diaconia who are part of a network or organisation that is a member
of Eurodiaconia. People who are likely to find it most interesting would be those working in the provision of
debt-related services, as well as directors of institutions or organisations interested in developing their work
with people in a situation of over-indebtedness.
Financial information:
Limited financial support is available for this event, with priority given to participants coming from either Central
or Eastern Europe or from minority church diaconia. Applications for financial support should be made when
registering for the meeting. However, no tickets or other reservations should be booked until the staff member
responsible for the event has confirmed if financial support will be given.
Please register on our online form by 2nd July 2015!
For further information or for any questions please contact Clotilde Clark-Foulquier at the Eurodiaconia
secretariat clotilde.clark-foulquier@eurodiaconia.org
DRAFT PROGRAMME
Monday 14th September
Preparation
1pm
Devotion
Introduction and agenda presentation
1.30
Presentation of the participants
2pm
Setting the scene:
Financial inclusion and over indebtedness, what is
happening in different countries? Members best
practices


Presentation by Jan Sjögerud, the Church of
Sweden, Anna Karin Lindhal and Annika
Sydberger Norman, Swedish enforcement
authority.
Presentation by Martin Lievens, Salvation Army
Belgium
3.15
Coffee break
3.30
Group discussion on national challenges and essential
policies to improve lending and borrowing
What is the official support procedure for private
persons in situation of over-indebtedness?
4.30
Please be ready to share
-an overview of the situation of
over indebtedness in your
country
-how
your
organisation
responds
to
it
-your analysis of your national
policies in addressing over
indebtedness: what works, what
is lacking?
Feedback in plenary
Energiser
5pm
From debt counselling to credit union, what are the
opportunities for churches and diaconia to support
people in debts?
Presentation by the Church of England (tbc)


6pm
Q&A
Discussion with members on experiences of credit
union
End of the 1st day
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7pm
Dinner
Tuesday 15th September
Preparation
9.00am
Briefing and discussion on the European Commission’s
report on over indebtedness
10am
From debt counselling to debt and credit restructuring
Olivier Jerusalmy, European Financial Inclusion Network
Please read the European
Commission report and be
ready to share your analysis

10.50am
Debt restructuring and credit restructuring:
how does it work? What alternatives?
 Q&A
 Discussion with members
Coffee break
11.10am
Group work: how to move forward?
12.30pm
Lunch
1.15pm
Leave for the study visit to a project in London (credit union
tbc)


Please come ready to 1) share
future
projects
of
your
organisation 2) think of the
concepts of credit union and
debt restructuring and how
there could be potential future
development
for
your
organisation 3) think of how
advocacy could be further
developed in your organisation
Presentation
Q&A
4.pm
Evaluation of the meeting and conclusion
5pm
End of the meeting
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