Frances Harrison

What she does outside the Panel

Frances has been Manager of Fairbridge West, a charity which supports inner city youth, since 2003. While in this role she has led national policy development pilots to develop ways to work with the most challenged young people, notably in financial capability for young adults for the FSA; with adults facing chronic exclusion for the Social Exclusion Taskforce; and in SmallSteps4Life for the Food Standards Agency. She has held a number of community roles in the Bristol area including: co-founder of the Bristol Financial Inclusion Taskforce; chair of the management committee of a local authority pupil referral unit; co-founder and trustee of FareShare Southwest, a charity working to relieve food poverty and food waste; and elected voluntary sector representative on the Childen and Young People's Trust Board. Since 2002, Frances has been a member of the FLA's Lending Code monitoring group.

Positions held in the past

Previously Frances spent nine years with the National Consumer Council as Head of Policy Research and Development (1999-2003), and Senior Policy Officer, High Street Law and Practice (1994-1999). Prior to this, Frances worked for the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux as a Specialist Support Officer for consumer law from 1983 to 1994. Frances has also worked for the Wolverhampton Metropolitan Borough Council as Manager of a Consumer Advice Centre, and for West Midlands County Council in their Consumer Protection Department. She has a Masters (LLM) in Commercial Law from the University of Bristol.

Reasons for joining the Panel

Frontline consumer advice services gave Frances first hand understanding of the difficulties consumers face and the impact on their lives when financial services fall below expectations. Although she believes all consumers need markets that work for them, she champions the most vulnerable and least financially literate who always face extra barriers of less access, less choice and more limited understanding of standard information. Frances wants to bring her practical experience in policy research and development here and in Europe, consumer law and consumer complaints to the panel at this most challenging and interesting time of transition.

Areas of particular interest on the Panel

Frances brings a particular interest in credit, banking and insurance sectors, together with an understanding of both the potential and limitations of financial capability. She also relishes learning more about industry perspectives, and how emerging markets and new methods of distribution and selling can responsibly meet the needs and aspirations of consumers.

Photographs

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