Coalfields cash to boost credit union

Mar 4 2010 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

A NEW grant is set to help boost services provided by a West Lothian credit union.

The £15,000 award from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust will help Blackburn, Seafield and District Credit Union extend their services to more former mining towns and villages in West Lothian.

The Coalfields grant will be used to take on two new part-time workers to help the credit union expand their financial education service to 10 primary schools and Whitburn Academy.

Joe Thomas, Scottish Trustee of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, said he was pleased the group was able to provide help for the credit union.

He said: “We are delighted to support this project because it does a fantastic job helping families manage their finances, particularly those on low incomes.

“That goes to the heart of one of the Trust’s priorities which is helping to build stronger and safer communities.”

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust’s £15,000 grant will be matched by funding from Leader and the West Lothian Trust to help the credit union expand it’s services over the next two-and-a-half years.

Credit Union Treasurer Liam Murphy said: “We are facing a big upsurge in demand for our services, partly because of the recession and partly because the banking crisis has made people shop around.

“Interest has also been generated by the financial education talks delivered by the West Lothian Credit Union Forum to primary and secondary school pupils as well as the School Saving Schemes we operate in 10 primary schools and in Whitburn Academy.

“But, at the moment, it can be difficult for people in places like Armadale, Fauldhouse, Stoneyburn, Whitburn and West Calder to use our services.

“A bus fare from some of these places to Blackburn and back will cost around £3, which doesn’t make too much sense if all you want to do is pay in a tenner. We believe in taking the credit union to the people through operating local services.”

He added: “We are really indebted to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust for their support for this project and for an earlier grant to improve our IT resources and an electronic payment system so that people can pay with their debit cards.”