A pioneering charity has launched a new initiative in the face of the credit crunch, to take loans from people who need a decent return on their income, and invest their money to help those in the developing world.

The UK wing of the global social investment initiative Oikocredit has teamed up with the Livesimply campaign to promote a shared vision for social justice. Oikocredit provides vital loans to creative but impoverished communities.

Oikocredit, a global member-based social investment co-operative which makes small loans to hundreds of vital development projects, has expressed hope that it will "really take off" in the UK after receiving its first major contribution.

A church-based campaign has picketed a retail chain for charging 'pernicious' prices for consumer goods, from home entertainment systems to kitchen appliances.