How it works
Vol. I · § The process
From the first form
to funds in your account — in plain English.
The same five-stage process leads to either of our two products — an interest-free loan up to £50,000 or non-repayable financial support up to £10,000. Each stage ends with a written confirmation, so you always know where your application sits.
Typical end-to-end: 10–14 working days
§ I · The five stages
What happens, when,
and what we ask of you.
01
About 20 minutes · Online or by phone
Submit your application
Tell us who you are, what you need, and roughly your situation. There is no credit check at this stage. If filling forms is hard for you, a caseworker will complete it with you over the phone.
You will need
- · Proof of UK address (e.g. utility bill, tenancy)
- · One form of photo ID (passport, driving licence, biometric residency)
- · Recent bank statement (we accept screenshots)
- · A short note on what the funds are for
02
Within 5 working days
Eligibility review
A caseworker reads your application carefully and checks UK residency, basic eligibility, and whether what you are asking for is something we can help with. You will hear from us either way.
03
30–45 minutes · Video, phone or in person
Verification
A short, plain-language conversation — not an interrogation. We confirm the documents you uploaded, talk through your repayment comfort, and check if free debt advice would help alongside us.
How verification feels
Conversational. Confidential. Conducted by a trained caseworker — never an algorithm. You can have a friend, family member or advocate present.
04
Decision in 2 working days
Approval
If approved, you receive a clear, written agreement: the amount, repayment schedule, and confirmation in writing that there is no interest, no fees and no charges of any kind.
05
Repayment terms 6–36 months
Receive support — repay gradually
Funds are usually with you within 3 working days of signing. Repay by standing order in amounts that suit your budget. If your circumstances change, you talk to us — we pause, never penalise.
If your circumstances change
Email or call us as soon as you can. We pause repayments on request. We do not charge missed-payment fees. We do not use debt collectors. We will work with you.
§ II · Eligibility
Who we can help —
and what we don't fund.
You qualify if…
- ·You are aged 18 or over
- ·You are a UK resident — England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
- ·You have a UK bank account in your own name
- ·You can show a need for the amount you are requesting
- ·You can repay over a term between 6 and 36 months
- ·You are applying for yourself — not on behalf of a business
What we cannot fund
- ·Business expenses, trading capital, or self-employment income smoothing
- ·Purchase of vehicles, property or assets above £6,000
- ·Speculative investment, including cryptocurrency
- ·Gambling debts (we will signpost you to GamCare — 0808 8020 133)
- ·Loans for someone other than yourself
- ·Bridging finance for businesses in financial distress
We do not require employment, a credit history, or an active current account at any particular bank. Asylum seekers, refugees, and individuals with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) are welcome to apply — we will discuss what evidence we can accept on a case-by-case basis.
§ III · The honest bit
What happens if you
can't repay?
Most repayments come through without incident. When they do not, the cause is almost always a change in circumstances — job loss, illness, bereavement, a new caring responsibility. Our response is simple and unchanging:
- · We pause your repayments while we talk.
- · We re-spread what remains over a longer term, if needed.
- · We do not charge late fees, missed-payment fees, or interest.
- · We do not use debt collection agencies.
- · We do not report to credit reference agencies.
- · In the rare event of a genuine, evidenced inability to repay at all, we may write off the remaining balance.
These principles are codified in our loan agreement — not just policy. They cannot be changed for an individual case.
§ IV · Common questions
Things people ask us
before they apply.
- Will applying affect my credit score?
- No. We do not run a credit check during application. At the verification stage we may make a soft enquiry — this is invisible to other lenders and has no effect on your credit score.
- What if I can't repay one month?
- You contact us and we adjust. Genuine hardship is met with payment holidays or a re-spread of the remaining balance — at no extra cost. We do not use debt collectors and we do not charge missed-payment fees of any kind.
- How long does the whole process take?
- From submitted application to funds in your account is typically 10 to 14 working days. Urgent cases (eviction notices, funerals, urgent medical) can be expedited and decided within 72 hours where evidence supports it.
- Is my information confidential?
- Yes. Applications are read only by named, trained caseworkers. We do not share details with credit reference agencies, employers, landlords or family members. Our data practices are described in plain English on the Privacy page.
- Can I apply if I have existing debt?
- Yes — most of our applicants do. We will often suggest applying alongside free, independent debt advice (StepChange, Citizens Advice or National Debtline). We have no commercial relationship with those services.
- Do you only support certain faiths or communities?
- No. Unity Relief UK serves anyone in the United Kingdom who meets the eligibility criteria, regardless of faith, ethnicity, language, sexuality, gender or immigration status.