Our team of volunteers works tirelessly to help prevent problem debt in our communities, as well as dealing with the shocking consequences of debt and poverty. To help pay the costs of training for our volunteers, as well as travel and out of pocket lunch expenses, we welcome financial donations large or small.
The Credit Union is not registered as a charity because it sells services, however it is widely considered that our aims and objectives are broadly charitable. To deliver our low cost services to members, we rely on our volunteers.
The Credit Union’s goals include contributing towards the alleviation of poverty within communities and contributing towards the economic regeneration of these communities.
To achieve this, we promote thrift among our members by helping them to accumulate savings; we offer sources of credit for members at a fair and reasonable rate of interest; we manage members’ savings for their mutual benefit, and we provide members with training and education in the wise use of money and in the management of their financial affairs.
Team of volunteers
Key to delivering our low cost services to members in need is our large team of volunteers. The roles they carry out are enormously varied. When people call or email us it is most likely to be a volunteer that deals with their enquiry, but, as well as office duties, our volunteers have a wide range of roles, from membership of the board of directors to cleaning the office.
Credit Union Chief Executive Martin Groombridge said: “Without our dedicated volunteers we simply could not continue to meet the needs of all those who are desperate to move away from borrowing and into financial stability. In order to help us meet the basic expenses incurred by our volunteers, we really do appreciate donations large or small.
“This enables us to put more of the money people save with the Credit Union towards providing financial support to those who are struggling. Every little bit really does help.”
Skills and experience
The volunteers at the Credit Union are remarkably diverse. Some are seeking paid work and are volunteering in order to develop their skills and experience. Others perhaps no longer work but like to remain active, gain new skills and help others in the process. Sometimes our volunteers are recovering from illness or have come to this country to escape civil war or famine in their home country and want to ‘give something back’ to their community.
As well as a wide range of work experience, we help people rebuild their confidence and improve their CVs, so they can get back into paid work. We also offer friendly support to improve written and spoken English if required. Experience shows that we are remarkably successful at getting our volunteers into paid employment.
Click here to find out more and to donate. Thank you.
