NEWS & EVENTS
Congratulations to the Robert Owen CBP in Powys on scooping the top prize in Wales for their entry in Feel the Heat – an award scheme sponsored by SWALEC and run by the leading fuel poverty charity, NEA, which is supported by the Welsh Assembly Government. Apart from the prestige, a very handy £1500 prize was received by Gill Williams who heads up the project. The project is one of the more innovative money advice services that credit unions are presently running. To find out more, come to this year's Conference where it will be featured as one of many exemplar projects.
New NACUW Report out in July
A new NACUW report researched jointly with the new economics foundation is being launched by Welsh Assembly Government Minister during conference to mark life and works of Robert Owen, founder of the cooperative movement.
Micro-businesses and the self-employed form a large and crucial part of the UK economy. They make a major contribution to the vitality of local economies and to their communities and to culture. Very often, they define the character of a place. They provide the small shops, services, crafts that are the economic life blood of local communities across the UK. Their dealings with each other give life to an urban neighbourhood or a rural village. Community life is unthinkable without their contribution. They are also a crucial sector of our credit union membership.
Our research shows this sector needs better support and access to financial services. It proposes a mutual model to provide this, and sees credit unions having a beneficial role to play in this valuable market.
"If you think training is expensive, try ignorance"
Yes we all know the old adage, but training is still an aspect of business development that we often fail to prioritise sufficiently - and to our cost. NACUW is looking into how better training can be designed around the needs of busy staff and volunteers in credit unions. Take two minutes to fill in our quick survey and tell us what you really think about training.