West Brom Building Society is marking a year since launching its fraud and scam awareness sessions, celebrating their impact in helping people protect themselves from financial crime and feel more confident spotting potential scams.

The first session was delivered in May last year at Wolverhampton College. Since then, the West Brom has run over 48 sessions, reaching over 680 people through branch community spaces and local venues including libraries, community centres and other local groups.

These events are open to everyone and are shaped around local needs including reaching communities where English may not be their first language. Reflecting the diversity of the areas the West Brom serves, some sessions have been delivered in other languages, such as Punjabi and Urdu.

Punjabi-language sessions held over the past year have included events with Handsworth Park Community Group’s Over 50s members, alongside a women’s yoga and gym session and a positive wellbeing group. The workshops help ensure important information reaches people who may otherwise feel unsure about where to turn for trusted advice.

In Wales, customers can also access support from Welsh-speaking colleagues, ensuring information is available in a way that feels comfortable and easy to understand.

Feedback from attendees and community partners has underlined just how important this work is, particularly as scams continue to grow in both number and sophistication. The workshops cover common scam types, real-life examples, how to spot warning signs, steps people can take to stay safe, and how and where to report concerns.

Following the success of the programme, all branch staff are now trained to deliver the fraud and scam awareness sessions. This means it will continue to expand, with more workshops planned in community venues and with local organisations.

Fraud and scam awareness also forms part of the West Brom’s work with schools, helping young people understand risks and how to stay vigilant from an early age.

Mel Bradburn, Senior Branch Manager in Wolverhampton, said: “We’re proud of the difference these sessions have made over the past year. With scams becoming more common and more convincing, it’s vital that people have access to clear, trusted advice to help keep themselves safe.

“Taking these workshops into the heart of our communities and delivering them in different languages has helped us reach people who might otherwise feel vulnerable. Supporting and protecting our communities is at the heart of what we do.”

The West Brom will continue to run and promote fraud and scam events over the coming year, ensuring they remain accessible and rooted in local areas.