Tel: 01903 237221
New Year - New Start for Savings!
Save with West Sussex Credit Union and help us support your local community!
Kick start your savings habit in 2012 and open an account with us today.
You can save regularly with us by standing order or by Pay Point card at your local newsagent or Post Office. You can also view your account on line to watch your savings grow.
It's so easy to join - click here http://westsussexcreditunion.co.uk/content.asp?section=4 to start making a difference for 2012.
If you are an employee of the following organisations, you can also Save As You Earn with West Sussex Credit Union by Payroll Deduction directly from your employer
- Western Sussex NHS Trust
- Arun District Council
- Adur & Worthing Council
Click here to find out more; secure.asp?section=193
Alternatively, call us on 01903 237221 to find out more.
NHS Trust Payroll Deduction Scheme Launches
From December 2011, West Sussex Credit Union have teamed up with Western Sussex NHS Trust to provide our Save as you Earn salary deduction scheme to their employees.
Employees will benefit from the opportunity to save regularly from their salary to build up their own nest egg knowing that they are helping support their local community. Employees wishing to borrow from the credit union will also benefit from a reduced loan interest rate.
Employees wishing to apply on line for Salary Deduction should click here.
This is great news for our credit union as we now manage Payroll Deduction schemes for Arun District Council, Adur & Worthing and NHS Trust.
Employers wishing to offer the Payroll Deduction scheme to employees should call Anthony Deveson on 01903 237221 to find out more.
Click here or more information.
How would you like to volunteer for your local community?
West Sussex Credit Union have teamed up with Affinity Sutton to launch our Community Advocate Project.
The aim of the project is for the volunteer to work in partnership with our credit union and Affinity Sutton to develop a volunteer community outreach and advocates service offering affordable and ethical products to financially excluded rural communities across West Sussex targeted in Affinity Sutton operating areas.
The volunteers will assist with the smooth running of the project by welcoming members and prospective members as they attend local static drop in centres or visit the community hub bus on location in West Sussex.
Every volunteer will be fully trained to an accreditated standard to provide a clear overview of the credit union along with products and services available.
The community bus will be in operation every Tuesday covering morning and afternoon sessions at the following areas:
- WSCU will travel every Tuesday at alternative sites
- Week 1 Cuckfield and Haywards Heath (PM)
- Week 2 Burgess Hill (AM) Hurstpierpoint / Hassocks (PM)
- Static Delivery areas will be based in Tangmere and East Grinstead
Interested? Take a look at the Job Description and call Anthony Deveson or Sue Mason on 01903 237221 to discuss further. If you can spare a few hours for a morning or afternoon slot we'd love to hear from you.
Download Community Advocacy Role - July 2011 (110.1kb)
Good news for Landlords and Tenants - Find out more here!
West Sussex Credit Union is pleased to announce the launch of two new initiatives aimed at tenants in private rented accommodation and in receipt of Local Housing Allowance [LHA]
The LHA direct payment scheme
As LHA is normally paid direct to tenants, rent arrears can often build up as the money is appropriated by banks to repay overdrafts; it becomes muddled up with other monies or is simply spent by mistake. Rent arrears will almost certainly result in a strained relationship between the tenant and landlord and could lead to eviction. In extreme cases it may result in homelessness.
To help prevent homelessness, we are now offering an exciting new LHA direct payment service for private landlords and their tenants. To use this service, the tenant has to become a member of the Credit Union and the landlord also has to agree to take part. We will arrange for the relevant paperwork and agreements to be signed by both parties. The Credit Union will then receive LHA payments on behalf of tenants and make immediate payments direct to landlords. As part of the agreement, the tenant must agree to provide 30 days notice to cancel the arrangement. This means landlords will receive prior notice of any potential payment issues.
As the tenant's Credit Union account is only used to receive LHA payments from the Council, there is no risk the money will be used for other purposes. This means that any money received by us is transferred directly to the landlord, therefore reducing the possibility of late or missed payments.
The direct payment scheme makes the payment and receipt of rent payments hassle free, providing much needed peace of mind and security of tenancy for both parties.
This service is free for all tenants. The landlord pays a small fee to cover the administration of the scheme.
By becoming a member of the Credit Union, tenants will have access to money management and budgeting advice and support, safe savings and possible access to fair loans once they have saved regularly with the credit union.
The Rent Deposit savings scheme
This scheme is designed to encourage tenants to save money regularly either to repay a rent deposit bond issued by the Council or towards their own deposit or rent in advance [the first months rent]
Want to know more? Call our Locality Officer, Martyn Clydesdale on 01903 237221 or email martyn.clydesdale@westsussexcreditunion.co.uk
Want to improve your Credit History?
Take a look at The Times 'Top Ten' hints at improving your credit history.
By saving with our credit union we can help you improve your credit history to improve your borrowing options in the future.
Click on our Membership Link and apply now.
Download Tips to Improve Credit (307.2kb)
Great News - We’ve declared our Annual Dividend
Following our annual AGM on 26th April 2011, the West Sussex Credit Union Board have agreed the savings dividend payable for the last financial year ending 30th September 2010.
The Board proposed a 1% dividend for savings for the 09/10 financial year. The Board felt that this was a justifiable proposal based on affordability and to thank savers and encourage increased savings for next year.
The 1% dividend will be calculated as the average share balance throughout the year and will be credited to your savings accounts during the first week of May 2011.
Thank you for your kind support of your local credit union and the wider community.
Download 2011 AGM Notes (305.9kb)
New Nationwide Money Advice Service Launches
Take a look at this new free nationwide service providing unbiased financial advice.
THE MONEY ADVICE SERVICE LAUNCHES TO GIVE FREE, UNBIASED ADVICE TO ALL
A new nationwide service launches today (4 April) to provide free, unbiased advice to help everyone make the most of their money. The Money Advice Service will help people take the right financial decisions and act on them, by giving personalised advice online at moneyadviceservice.org.uk, over the phone on 0300 500 5000, and face-to-face across the UK through a national network.
The Service is free and here to help those millions of people who need practical money advice, whatever their financial circumstances.
The Money Advice Service aims to revolutionise the way people in the UK think about and manage their money. Research shows that if people feel in control of their finances they feel better off, have a greater sense of wellbeing, and are happier.
Gerard Lemos, Chairman of the Money Advice Service, said:
“The Money Advice Service is here to make people’s lives easier and better. I firmly believe we can all enjoy life more given the right money advice at the right time in the right way. We’re not here to sell people anything and we won’t charge anyone – we are here to help people take decisions about their money and plan for a better future for themselves and their families.”
Later this year, the Money Advice Service will launch an online health check, which will provide a personal action plan to help people identify their money priorities and make a plan for their financial future. A UK-wide campaign will also promote the Service and encourage everyone to foster good money habits and think differently about their money.
If you would like to to discuss any aspects of the service I would be pleased to speak or meet with you.
Please note I am on annual leave from close of business Wednesday 6th April returning Tuesday 26th April. In my absence my colleague Sue McHale will be a point of contact. Sue.McHale@moneyadviceservice.org.uk 020 7943 0493 or 07919 396064.
Would you like to keep warm over winter and save money?
Last winter was one of the coldest on record and many people suffered - the outlook this year looks very similar.
Fuel bills spiralled out of control and many people could not afford to heat their homes.
West Sussex Credit Union have teamed up in partnership with EDF and National Energy Action (NEA) to provide the West Sussex community with easy, effective and practical energy advice and support to pay energy bills.
We can help you save money and be more energy efficient by offering:
- Free and confidential telephone assessments to help you pay your energy bills
- Advice and support on payment methods by helping you get the benefits of direct debit payments and taking away the risk of running up bank charges even if you don't have a bank account
- Helping you get the best energy deals
- Energy saving advice
- Debt advice and support
What have you got to lose? - give us a call on 03335 777067
Download Raise The Temperature Leaflet (1402.4kb)
Francis Maude MP visits West Sussex Credit Union
Francis Maude visits the West Sussex Credit Union
After celebrating two successful years of business, West Sussex Credit Union invited Francis Maude, Conservative MP for Horsham to visit their office in Worthing to hear how the credit union is helping to reduce financial exclusion within the community.
West Sussex Credit Union was set up to achieve one simple aim: to be the first choice for low cost, high quality ethical financial services for the residents and workers of West Sussex.
Francis and the Credit Union team discussed that following the economic downturn and the squeeze on funds more and more people are being excluded from mainstream lending.
General Manager, Richard Jones explained ‘West Sussex Credit Union offers a genuine alternative which offers a financial lifeline to people who need to borrow for essentials, and yet protects them from the risk of debt and high interest borrowing.’
Francis Maude added ‘The credit union team are so obviously passionate about what they do! Their mission is to put an end to people feeling they have no alternative but to turn to legal or illegal lenders who charge eye-watering interest rates - they’re doing a great job and I wish them every success in the future. I’d urge any West Sussex resident to get in touch with them if they’re considering taking out a loan, or indeed starting to save money’.
West Sussex Credit Union is at the forefront of the new drive to provide community finance for people who want to save their money in an ethical, local and friendly organisation and for people who want to borrow at affordable rates – many of whom are finding the banks difficult to deal with.
Recently, West Sussex Credit Union has developed a payroll deductions scheme for employees of Arun, Adur and Worthing Councils and now this scheme is available for any West Sussex employer.
Many of the credit union loans have been provided to people who would otherwise have borrowed from home credit companies, which charge at least 272% APR. The increased use of PAYDAY Loans across West Sussex illustrates the dangers that people are faced with when borrowing money short term for emergencies without making an informed decision on the high interest rates, up to 3000% APR, that they will be charged.
The credit union will be moving to new larger premises in Montague Street, Worthing in December 2010 to support their increasing customer base and to provide a much needed alternative to people that may have been excluded or ignored by mainstream banking and financial services.
More information can be found at www.westsussexcreditunion.co.uk where you can download membership or loan applications. Alternatively call on 01903 237221 to find out more.
Concerned about Debt?
West Sussex Credit Union can help you to plan your way out of debt with clear direction and support.
Click here to find out more.
http://www.westsussexcreditunion.co.uk/content.asp?section=174
Take the first step to improving your situation.
Call us directly on 01903 237221 to discuss more.
