Invite to tender for development of game & quiz

Posted: 31-10-2012

Stop Loan Sharks Project.

The Illegal Money Lending Team (England), working alongside NASMA, invite you to bid for development of a 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 websites or Facebook 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 on the document attached 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 come-uppance 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.


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, Facebook etc.

(b)   Questions about loan sharks (questions could be developed from information brief attached below).

(c)   A prize of a printable certificate at the end.

 

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.

 

HOW TO APPLY:

Read through the information on this information sheet, and complete the application form at the end of the document.

DEADLINE:

Your application must reach the Illegal Money Lending Team by no later than 30th November 2012.

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. See the document attached above for some examples of these myths.