COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES –
WE WANT YOU!
INVITE TO TENDER FOR
DEVELOPMENT
OF
SID THE SHARK GAME
AND QUIZ
Page 2: What we want from you and why should you bid
Page 4: IMLT information brief
Page 5: Application form
Stop Loan Sharks Project – Illegal Money Lending Team, England
INVITE TO BID FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SID THE SHARK GAME AND QUIZ
WHO CAN BID: STUDENT GROUPS INCLUDING UNIVERSITIES &
COLLEGES IN ENGLAND.
WHAT WE WANT FROM YOU – THE GAME:
We’d like
(a) A five minute game developed for use on the internet – both
through a link from our website or Face Book and available as a
DVD. It would feature our mascot Sid The Shark as the main
character and get some of the main points listed below across in a fun way.
We have a cartoon image of Sid or a shark suit that may be borrowed if needed.
(b) We would ideally like people to play the game without
realising immediately that it is about our project – a fun
game about chasing a loan shark who will get his comeuppance in the end first, then info about how to report a
loan shark to the IMLT at the end.
(c) The game would have to be playable through normal home
computers without the use of specialist software.
(d) The possibility of making it available as a mobile phone
download could also be considered.
Info that could be included in game:
 Loan sharks are illegal (because they don’t have a licence)
 Loan sharks can charge very high interest - once you take out the loan it can
keep growing even if you are making payments (you could have Sid visiting to
ask for more money even though he’s already been paid this week)
 Loan sharks can threaten you if you don’t pay
 There is help available!
WHAT WE WANT FROM YOU – THE QUIZ:
We’d like
(a) A five minute quiz for adults/older youths about illegal money lenders which could be
placed on website pages, Face Book etc.
(b) Questions about loan sharks (questions could be developed from information brief
over-leaf)
(c) A prize of a printable certificate at the end
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TENDER PROCESS
In the first instance you will be requested to submit a story board of your ideas. This will
explain how the game/quiz will operate and include any technical specifications. At this
stage you will need to submit costings and give a break down of initial development costs
and final tender cost.
The second stage of the process will see the IMLT commission your work. At this stage we
may pay for development costs only. Your product will then be tested and if successful we
will then agree to the final cost.
WHY SHOULD YOU APPLY?
(a) If we agree to your bid we will pay your college or university using money taken from
loan sharks under the Proceeds Of Crime Act. We can use this money to raise
awareness of loan sharks to prevent people from getting involved.
(b) We will publicise your college or university in both national and local press releases to
launch the game and quiz
(c) We will offer training to students in your university or college to prevent them getting
involved with loan sharks
THE BACKGROUND TO IMLT AND INFO ABOUT ILLEGAL LENDERS:
Loan shark activity can affect everyone – even if you are not borrowing, there may be crimes
such as theft and anti-social behaviour directly connected to an illegal lender which will
reduce once the loan shark is removed from the community.
Funded by BIS, The Loan shark project began as a pilot in Birmingham in 2004. Due to its
success it was rolled out across England in 2008. The team consists of investigators
including ex-police and serving police, recruits from private fraud investigation companies
and Senior Trading Standards Officers and Liaise – Lead in Awareness, Intelligence, Support
and Education Officers. (Part of the Liaise role is to provide victim support by accessing the
client’s needs and sign-posting to relevant agencies. Sometimes it has been necessary to
move victims out of the immediate area for their own safety).
What is a Loan Shark?
A loan shark is someone who lends money without the licence required by the Consumer
Credit Act 1974. These licences are issued by the Office of Fair Trading to individuals or
companies whom they believe are “fit and proper”.
Loan Sharks - Dispelling the Myths
One of the things that has become apparent is that there are lots of myths around loan shark
activities, that have no truth whatsoever. For example:
MYTH – Unlicensed money lending is not illegal
FACT – It is illegal for anyone to operate a money lending business if they do not have a
license from the Office of Fair Trading
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MYTH – If you borrow from a loan shark, you commit an offence
FACT – It is the loan shark who is behaving illegally. Reporting the loan shark’s activity will
not get you into trouble with the authorities.
MYTH – Loan sharks provide a reasonable priced service
FACT – The average cost of borrowing from a loan shark is three times the price of the
highest cost of legal credit. The highest interest rate the team have come across so far was
131,000% APR. One victim was receiving benefits of £74 per week. The loan shark took £50
a week, leaving just £24 to live on.
National successes to date:
Written off more than £40million of illegal debt (money that victims would have had to
pay back)
Helped more than 18,200 people, including the most hard to reach individuals
Seized and confiscated over £1.3 million cash
Secured more than 130 years in prison sentences, plus an indefinite sentence for
public protection
Proceeds Of Crime cases on-going for more than £27 million
1. HOTLINE NUMBER 0300 555 2222
2. TEXT 60003
3. EMAIL [email protected]
For more information visit: www.direct.gov.uk/stoploansharks
***************************************************************
APPLICATION FORM OVERLEAF
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The Illegal Money Lending Team is, making available proceeds of crime money
taken from loan sharks to be used to raise awareness of loan sharks.
We can provide funding for the development of a loan shark game and quiz
as detailed in the brief above.
We want to:
•
•
•
Promote the illegal money lending team
Spread the message that loan sharks should be avoided at all costs
Reduce crime and disorder by preventing illegal money lending
Please fill in the application form below.
1.
About You
Your Name
Address
Contact Tel
Email
What is the name of your
school/college or university?
Address if different to above
Does your organisation have its own
bank account?
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2.
About You / Your group
Please describe your idea and how it meets the criteria.
If you need to you can continue on a separate sheet and attach pictures or other
references you may wish to add.
How long will the project take? Please give approx start & finish dates.
Who will be involved in the project?
How much will it cost to deliver?
Please provide a budget breakdown for either the game or quiz or both.
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Thank you for filling in the application form.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT:
If we wish to proceed with your idea, we will let you know by the closing date of November
30th 2012. We will then invite you to demonstrate your product and make a final decision.
Any questions please contact Cath Wohlers.
Also send completed bids to [email protected]
Tel: 07500809339
.
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