Episode 1

Featuring chef Stella, who when she needs £3,000 to expand her restaurant business in the Peak District National Park, heads straight to the Derbyshire Credit Union. It has already helped her to bring her Cameroonian cuisine to the locals but will it grant her the extra funds she needs to convert an old barn into a commercial kitchen?

Former automotive manager Wendy has a new zest for life thanks to an ethical loan. She needed £10,000 to swap careers from cars to canines and set up a dog-grooming business, but after living abroad for several years meant she had no credit history, finding finance wasn't easy. When times are tough often a low-cost loan can be a lifeline.

Richard from south Wales lost his livelihood as an HGV driver after a head injury. With some carpentry skills learnt from his father, and a loan from a not-for-profit lender Richard rebuilds his life crafting static Romany caravans.