Ethos Public Relations Manchester

The Connect programme, supported by Barclays, helps strengthen bonds between credit unions and Citizens Advice

by Ethos public relations

As part of an ongoing programme of support for credit unions and Citizens Advice, the latest initiative from the Connect programme, supported by Barclays, is the launch of a new Small Bursaries Scheme.

The scheme, which is being co-ordinated by ABCUL – the Association of British Credit Unions, is designed to assist in the creation of new partnerships between credit unions and Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) and to help those credit unions and bureaux that have not previously benefited from Connect programme support.

Fifteen partnerships have been awarded funding for a diverse range of initiatives including:
•    visits to local businesses, supported by a local borough council business engagement team, promoting the services of credit unions and CAB
•    the provision of equipment and renovation costs for new co run clinics and outreach services
•    training days for staff and volunteers of credit unions and CAB
•    the co-establishment of a local Financial Inclusion Forum
•    a programme of ‘train the trainer’ workshops for staff from both organisations to deliver joint community training sessions.

The partnerships cover the length and breadth of England and Wales, from the North East of England and as far south as Somerset, and help to demonstrate the close working relationships between credit unions and Citizens Advice across the country.

The key to any successful partnership is to develop sustainable working relationships, explains Anne Selka, Project Manager at ABCUL. “The response has been fantastic with over 80 organisations involved in bursary applications. The standard of application was extremely high with some very innovative and varied proposals for developing and augmenting sustainable CAB / credit union relationships.”

Elizabeth Adimeji, Head of National Partnership Development at Citizens Advice, says: "Many of the people on low incomes who turn to their local CAB for help with debt problems or because they are worried about how to pay basic household bills could benefit enormously from access to a credit union, allowing them to boost their money management skills and get help with low cost credit and savings. That's why it makes perfect sense for us to work together wherever we can. This new scheme will help us do that better in more areas."

Rachel Herbinson, Barclays Community Investment Manager, adds: “Since 2005, we've given over £3m to the UK community finance sector, as part of our financial inclusion strategy. We are proud of the role we are playing in helping to promote the sustainability and reach of the sector. Programmes like Connect enable us to support the valuable work and partnerships between credit unions and local CABs and we are delighted so many will benefit from the Small Bursaries Scheme.”

Posted at 3^rd June 2010