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Summer 2008 Newsletter

Newsletter     Summer 2008

From the Chair

Summer has crept up on us once again, a time when we can sit back a bit and relax. Well we can but dream! I don’t know about you but I seem to be working at the same old frenzied pace no matter what time of year it is.

Well now here's an opportunity to have a few days out in leafy Warwickshire — our annual conference at the University of Warwick. I know it's in Coventry, but it is still pretty leafy.

Seriously though this is an excellent opportunity to get updates on a whole series of issues and initiatives which are outlined elsewhere in this issue. It is also a chance for some good networking sessions to find out what is happening elsewhere in the country. I look forward to seeing you there.

Brian Geary, Chair of NACUW

In this issue ...

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Birds and Knots, Rugby Football and Calligraphy!!

Yes all these and more were the subjects chosen by members of the "Train the Trainers" course for their short presentations in Rotherham in April.

The course, intended for those who are undertaking credit union and allied training, gave participants the chance to consider many different methods of training and to see how they best fitted everyone's needs. Learning from others was a large part of the course – it's always fascinating to hear the experience of others and how they overcame their difficulties.

The presentations were, as always, a little nerve-racking for those giving them, but in the spirit of mutual help each was analysed and the participants learned a great deal from them to add to the other information and training tools given on the day.

The course tutor, Jane Woodford, said "It's always good to look at ourselves and our training delivery again and watch and listen to others. It is amazing what we can learn. I feel confident that all the participants will be able to deliver quality training in the wide variety of subjects they will be asked to cover, and enjoy the experience more for having participated in the course".

Interested in this or other training offered by NACUW? Check what's available in this newsletter or on our website www.nacuw.org.uk and ask Mandy shine, Training coordinator, if you don't see what you want. Mandy can be contacted at or on 024 7663 3911.

As an employee, have you ever

  • wished you had someone to speak to about an employment matter?

  • had a disagreement with your board of directors?

  • had a disagreement over a point of employment law?

Well now as a NACUW member you can use our helpline to discuss these and similar issues. Call us and ask to be put in touch with our advice service where you will be able to have up to an hour’s consultation – free to members.

Just phone Mandy or Mike on 07989 982727 or 07989 982731 and they will activate the Advice Service for you.

This is all part of NACUW’s service to its members.

Action Learning Programme under way and performing well

Following the highly successful launch of NACUW’s new Esmée Fairbairn Foundation funded Action Learning Programme earlier this year, three of the four Action Learning Sets (ALS) that were originally proposed have now been established. Two of the sets already meet regularly, these being

  • Community Banking Partnerships (CBP) Managers' & Coordinators' ALS and

  • CBP Community Bank Account (CBAccount) ALS.

Each of the above sets has identified and agreed a significant number of issues and common areas of interest to both Credit Unions and CDFIs, issues which they intend to address or further develop and, where appropriate, find solutions.

By adopting this innovative approach to learning, training and self-development, the members of the Action Learning Sets will

  • learn by doing,

  • learn from each other and

  • through the wider partnerships, gain experience and help in the attainment of new skills.

All this is to be achieved through the joint working of the ALS members within each of their sets in completing either one of the current tasks: that is around the development and introduction of the new CBAccount; or towards the achievement of growing and development also the promotion of the Community Banking Partnerships.

Pictured below are some of the members of the CBP Managers' & Coordinators' ALS attending the meeting held at Birmingham Friends of the Earth.

The two remaining Action Learning Sets will address the needs of CBP Back Office/ICT Staff and CBP Front Office/Customer Services Staff.

Some of the issues that have already been identified for these two further sets to review and address include:

  • money and budgetary advice,

  • new products and services,

  • the growth fund,

  • communications and

  • marketing strategies.