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Are you...

• Someone who is looking to save a large amount - ideally for a house deposit

• Currently renting

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and are you happy to...

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Please share more details using this form. If we think your story would be a good fit for this campaign, Alice will be in touch with further questions via email. Submissions that are used for the campaign will receive a £50 amazon voucher at a minimum. 

Global Markets Volatility, GBP Surge

& How you can get ahead…

1. Global Markets Volatility 

In the past week, global stock markets have been unstable i.e., volatile, with major indexes like the S&P 500, Dow Jones, NASDAQ, and FTSE 100 all going down.

Why is this happening? 🤔

• The market reacted adversely to the US tariffs imposed on Canada, Mexico and China which took effect on Tuesday Mar 4, with some concessions to Canada & Mexico, by delaying some of the levies till April 2.

• However, investors are concerned about the impact of these tariffs on US growth. 

2. GBP Surges against the USD

The Pound Sterling jumped to a high of $1.29 against the US Dollar, the highest seen since November 2024.

Why is the £ surging? 💷

• Market worries about the tariffs imposed on Canada, Mexico and China, and how it will impact U.S. growth is also causing the $ to fall

• The ‘expectation’ that both the £ and € will not be impacted by the tariffs, is causing both currencies to surge against the $

• The expectation of increased defence spending across Europe & the UK is also driving the surge.

Looking Ahead…

• More fluctuations and general uncertainty in the market are expected following the impact of the tariffs.

• Retaliatory tariffs from other countries are likely to follow in response to the US tariffs.

• Geopolitical concerns from the Russia-Ukraine conflict add to the uncertainty.

How can you deal with these fluctuations?...

💢 Diversify your portfolio to reduce your risks and minimise your losses.  

• Diversifying i.e., not putting all your eggs in one basket by overexposure to one asset or area reduces your risks and gives you a more stable return over time. 

• You can diversify your portfolio by asset class (stocks, bonds, commodities, real estate), by geography (Europe, US, Asia, Global), and by sector (FMCG, Tech, Biotech, Finance etc).

💰 Focus on a long term outlook 

• Timing or predicting the market remains a myth and in the short term, fluctuations, market crashes and corrections are expected. 

• However, a long term perspective allows investors to ride out market fluctuations and benefit from the long term growth in the market.

Leasehold to Be Abolished: What It Means for You

The UK government has announced plans to abolish the leasehold system in England and Wales, ending a property ownership structure that has existed for centuries.

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has promised that the system will be scrapped before the end of this parliamentary term, marking one of the most significant property reforms in decades.

What is leasehold?

Under a leasehold arrangement, homeowners own their property for a set number of years—sometimes centuries—but do not own the land it stands on.

The land remains under the control of a freeholder (or landlord), who can charge ground rent, service charges, and other fees.

Leaseholders often struggle with escalating costs, restrictive contracts, and difficulties in extending their lease or buying their freehold.

For years, campaigners have argued that leasehold makes homeowners “second-class citizens”, as they have limited control over their own homes despite paying large sums of money for them.

What is changing?

The government plans to replace leasehold with commonhold, a system used in many other countries. Under commonhold:

• Homeowners fully own their properties and a share of the building.

• There is no freeholder, meaning no ground rent or service charges controlled by a landlord.

• Residents collectively manage shared spaces, like stairwells and gardens, through a commonhold association.

The upcoming Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill, expected later this year, will:

• Ban the sale of new leasehold flats, making commonhold the default ownership model for new developments.

• Make it easier and possibly cheaper for leaseholders to buy their freeholds.

• Introduce stricter rules for managing buildings to reassure mortgage lenders and prevent mismanagement.

How will it affect current leaseholders?

While new properties will no longer be sold as leasehold, existing leaseholders will see reforms designed to make purchasing their freehold easier . The government also plans to cap excessive ground rents and regulate service charges.

What happens next?

The government is set to publish a white paper outlining the details of the transition. However, critics argue that the process has been slow, with previous governments failing to deliver promised reforms.

If passed, this law could mark the end of one of the UK’s most controversial property ownership systems, giving homeowners greater security and control over their homes.

Michael Sheen Wipes £1M of Debt for 900 People

Michael Sheen has used £100,000 of his own money to clear £1M of debt for 900 people in South Wales.

The actor set up a debt acquisition company to buy and cancel outstanding debts. His project is featured in the upcoming Channel 4 documentary, Michael Sheen’s Secret Million Pound Giveaway, airing Monday 10 March.

The documentary exposes how banks and finance firms buy and sell debt cheaply but still chase full payments from borrowers. Sheen wanted to highlight this issue and help those trapped in debt.

Sheen initially thought the project would last a few weeks. Instead, it took two years, requiring secrecy and complex legal steps.

At one point, he considered quitting. But a conversation in a Port Talbot café changed his mind.

A café worker told him how local steelworkers broke down in tears after losing their jobs due to the closure of the town’s last blast furnace.

"That really hit home," Sheen said. "I just thought—anything I can do [to help]."

A Lifetime of Giving Back

This isn't Sheen’s first major act of generosity. The self-declared ‘not-for-profit’ actor has made a habit of funding social causes:

• 🏠 Sold his houses to fund the 2019 Homeless World Cup in Cardiff.

• 🎭 Personally funded a new Welsh theatre company after National Theatre Wales folded.

• 💰 Regularly donates to South Wales charities.

Sheen doesn’t know the identities of those he helped—only their location and the type of debt.

"Some may not even realise their debts are cleared," he said, urging people in South Wales to check their accounts.

Other Celebrities Who Give Back

Sources/Read More:

Global Markets Volatility, GBP Surge & How you can get ahead…

• Pound Surges, FTSE 100 Slumps in Historic Week for Markets
  Bloomberg

• US dollar hits three-month low as trade war sparks 'Trumpcession' fears, and FTSE 100 slides – as it happened
  The Guardian

• Stock Market News, March 3, 2025: S&P 500, Nasdaq Fall; Dollar Weakens as Trump Tariffs Loom
  The Wall Street Journal

• USD hit hard by tariffs as markets worry about US growth
  Convera

• USD tumbles, EUR, GBP surge, as tariff trend turns
  Convera

• US shares tumble, but FX more muted, as Trump says tariffs will proceed
  Convera

Leasehold to Be Abolished: What It Means for You

• Centuries-Old Leasehold System to Be Abolished in England and Wales 

  The Guardian

• What Will a Ban on Leasehold Flats Mean for Buyers? 

  The Times

• What Will the UK Government’s Leasehold Alternative Mean for Homeowners? 

  Financial Times

• Leasehold Reform Latest: What Homeowners Need to Know The Independent Landlord

• Government Statement on Leasehold Reform and Commonhold Proposals 

  UK Parliament

Michael Sheen Wipes £1M of Debt for 900 People

• El actor Michael Sheen libera a 900 personas de sus deudas
  El País

• Michael Sheen Just Paid £1M Worth of Debt for 900 People Using His Own Money
  NME

• Michael Sheen Clears £1M Debt for 900 People
  Yahoo News UK

• Michael Sheen’s Extraordinary Gesture as He Pays Off Debts of Hundreds of People
  Nation.Cymru