PUBLICATIONS

Some of our recent research available:
Community Banking Partnerships (2008)Community Banking Partnership: The joined-up solution for financial inclusion and community economic developmentOver the past four years a Community Banking Partnership (CBP) approach has been co-developed by some of Britain’s most innovative players in community finance. Robustly designed Community Banking Partnerships are creating financial inclusion, alleviating debt problems, preventing a reccurrence of debt, and showing that there can be a net gain to the partners from investing in the process. The success of this financial inclusion model is leading to a growing interest in CBP from all regions of England and from many areas of Wales and Scotland as well.Hard copy available from our administration department.
Self-help and mutual aid (2008)A mutual for the self-employed ? underpinning local economies across Britain. Our latest report launched by the Welsh Assembly Minister this summer shows the importance of credit unions supporting the self-employed sector of our market.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.Conaty and Brown, nef publications.Hard copy available from our administration department.
£5.00 + P&P for members
£10.00 + P&P for non-membersPDF version free to download by members (when logged in).
From the Ashes of the Crash (nef 2008)All of us in the credit union world are acutely aware of the impact and implications of the current financial turmoil. But could our economic architecture be in fact fatally flawed? Are we witnessing the end of the so called ‘free market model’? Should we be planning for a very different future where credit unions and other community finance institutions become the new banks on our high street? Whilst many economists are predicting a recession in the traditional sense, others are questioning whether or not we are heading for something far worse. And if that is the case is now then the time to demand that we should be looking for a fairer and saner model, rather than trying to prop up the older corrupt one.The new economics foundation is one organisation that is making such a call and has recently been advocating a ‘Green New Deal’ to address the financial meltdown, alongside climate change and the imminent peaking of many key resources. Now as part of that process nef are prioritising 20 steps that need to be made in order to rebuild a better economy. One of these steps is strongly advocating credit unions and the Community Banking Partnership approach. See how we can be part of a very different future.
CBP Legal Structures that Work (2005)How to set up working contracts with other partners in tackling financial exclusion. Looking at community development credit unions in the USA and what the British credit union movement can learn from these.The National Federation of CDCUs with the British CBP Team.Hard copy available from our administration department. NB Only a very small number remaining: this may be your last opportunity to buy an original printed version.
£5.00 + P&P for members
£10.00 + P&P for non-membersPDF version free to download by members (when logged in).
Community Banking Partnership – a joined-up solution for financial inclusion (2004)
How partnership approaches with Money Advice and other local services can improve financial inclusion and credit union business growth.Hard copy available from our administration department. NB Only a very small number remaining: this may be your last opportunity to buy an original printed version.
£5.00 + P&P for members
£10.00 + P&P for non-membersPDF version free to download by members (when logged in).
Life Saving – Community Development Credit Unions (2003)
New ideas for credit unions on how to grow to a sustainable position.Mick Brown (NACUW), Pat Conaty (New Economics Foundation) and Ed Mayo (National Consumer Council).Hard copy available from our administration department. NB Only a very small number remaining: this may be your last opportunity to buy an original printed version.
£5.00 + P&P for members
£10.00 + P&P for non-membersPDF version free to download by members (when logged in).
Tackling Financial Exclusion – the case for a Community Banking Partnership Approach (2005)How credit unions, money advice agencies, banks and CDFIs can join together to offer a partnership solution.Conaty and Dayson, Salford University Press.Not currently available.Tackling Financial Exclusion
Growing the Credit Union Movement (aka “The Oxfam Report?) (2002)Despite Government Initiatives why did credit unions lose out?A hard hitting report that pulls no punches. A wake up call for credit union representative bodies to work more cooperatively together in response to PAT 14 and the CSO debacleA joint report by ACE, The Association of Independent Credit Unions, NACUW and The Scottish League.Hard copy available from our administration department.
£5.00 + P&P for members
£10.00 + P&P for non-members
The Oxfam Report
Celebrating 10 Years (2002)
Our celebratory souvenir bumper annual report. Very collectable! Still a few copies left, and if you are lucky you might get a signed version by the Chair.