JOHN’S BLOG – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017

Life is buzzing here at HEY-CU as it’s “all hands on deck” to provide our members with the funds they need to afford the coming festive season.  If we take a little longer than usual to respond to your enquiries, we hope you will understand.

OUR AGM

We are looking forward to meeting our members at the AGM on Tuesday 12 December in Hull Guildhall.  The meeting starts at 5.45 pm but food and drink is available from 5.15 pm.  It promises to be an interesting meeting as we have lots to tell you about our action-packed year as well as our exciting plans for 2018.   We promise there won’t be any long speeches but we are thrilled that Aidene Walsh of the Fairbanking Foundation is coming to say a few words about our award of a 5-star Fairbanking Mark which was obviously one of the highspots of our 2017.

Our Annual Newsletter and Report & Accounts are now on our website for you to and we will shortly post details of the candidates nominated for the Board of Directors so that you can read about them ahead of the meeting if you wish.   If you are unable to come to the meeting but would like to email a question on the report, we’ll try to have it answered at the meeting and then forward a reply to you.

RECORD CHRISTMAS SAVINGS

It’s been another record year for our Christmas Saver account.  Members accumulated just over £700,000 by 1^st November, the date when the funds were unlocked for withdrawal.   All branches increased their festive savers this year but I want to make particular mention of our newest contact points – Howden and Hemingbrough – where, despite us only opening in June and September respectively, the savvy-saving residents managed to amass £4,634 towards Christmas, and earn themselves £1,450 in bonuses thanks to our Shop the Sharks Campaign!

While browsing a well-known bookshop the other day I was fascinated to find a paperback called Me Sannies are Brannies by John Brien.   It lists all the words and phrases that Hull folk use that are unique to the city, you know, like “mama mia” (here I am, mother) and “goin’ on rerd (going shopping).  It even mentioned Didlums – the informal savings clubs often run by work mates or neighbours Hull people use to save up for Christmas.  Here at HEY-CU we must surely be running the biggest Didlum in the City – our Christmas Saver account!   It’s probably the safest one as well, because it’s entirely protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, unlike those informal ones.   If you haven’t joined yet, why not give it a try and aim for a stress-free Christmas 2018.   I can see all you non-Hullites wondering: Me Sannies are Brannies?  - My sand shoes (gym shoes) are brand new.

LOANS GALORE

We’re very delighted that more and more people are discovering that our Credit Union Loan offers a great way to spread the cost whether it’s for Christmas treats, replacement domestic items, a new car, home improvements, a holiday, a special family celebration or whatever.  Since the morning BBC TV series featured credit unions a few weeks back, footfall in our branches has been higher than ever, and our loans are up 35% compared to the same period last year.  Our Child Benefit Loan and Savings Plan has taken off in a big way – check it out on our website – while, for our payroll members, our Flexi-Credit product is proving highly popular.    

During October and November we experimented with Saturday opening at our main Brook Street branch and there was a good response.  We will be evaluating the results shortly to see if this is something that would be worth repeating.

There’s still time to apply for a CU Loan for Christmas but don’t leave it too long!

DRIFFIELD CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL AND LIGHT SWITCH ON

If you’re out and about in Driffield on Friday 1^st December the chances are you’ll meet our pennywise friend, Penny the penguin!   She’ll be helping our volunteers on the Credit Union stall at Driffield’s Christmas Market, which starts at 2 pm and lasts until 8 pm.  The festive fun takes place in the Market Place, with the big switch on at 7 pm. There’ll be lots of gift ideas, music and street entertainment, a family fun fair, tombola, hog roast and a chance to see Santa on his sparkling sleigh.  Talking of gift ideas, why not open a First Saver account for the special children in your life; you’ll be setting them up for a bright financial future?

OUR GOOLE TOY APPEAL

We’re proud to be supporting the Our Goole Christmas Toy Appeal, which distributes gifts to local families who need a bit of support. Anyone wishing to donate may drop off new unwrapped gifts at our Goole branch, 22 Pasture Road on Mondays, Tuesdays or Fridays from 10 am to 2 pm.  Let’s make their Christmas a special one.

MEMBERS’ LOTTERY

Those Credit Union Friendly Folk who run our monthly Members’ Lottery have issued their Annual Report and Accounts which make interesting reading.  During the year to 30 September 2017 they sold 12,371 Lottery tickets and paid out prizes worth £7,278 (58%).  They again donated £5,000 to our Credit Union to support our training, marketing and postage costs.  We are most grateful to the Hull Branch of UNISON, the public service union, for becoming our main Lottery sponsor for 2017-19, which means more prizes for our members each month. 

We’re keen to find more sponsors to help swell the prize fund.  Organisations who become Lottery sponsors get great publicity in our newsletters, on social media and the branch TV screens, which are seen by thousands of members.  If your organisation would like to support us, do please get in touch.

DEMENTIA FRIENDS

Our staff team had an interesting talk by one of the Dementia Friends Champions, a trained volunteer from the Alzheimer’s Society.  We wanted to understand more about dementia so that we can better help members with the condition when they visit or call us on the phone.  We learnt five important things about dementia:

·        It’s not a natural part of ageing;

·        It’s caused by diseases of the brain;

·        It’s not just about losing your memory, it can affect thinking, communicating and doing everyday tasks;

·        It is possible to live well with dementia; and

·        There’s more to a person than dementia.  With support, people with dementia can and do take an active role in life.

Hopefully, by becoming Dementia Friends we can play a small part in helping to build more dementia-friendly communities.  If you need support or advice about dementia, visit alzheimers.org.uk or contact the National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122.  To enquire about becoming a Dementia Friend, email dementiafriends@alzheimers.org.uk or call 0845 306 0898.

CREDIT UNION ARCHIVE

One of our active volunteers suggested that, now HEY-CU has passed its 18^th anniversary, it could be time to set up an archive to ensure our proud history is properly recorded for the benefit of future generations.   We are required by law to keep minutes of our board and committee meetings of course, and we have a full set of annual reports, but also over the years we’ve amassed a range of artefacts such as City of Hull Credit Union mugs, pens, coasters, rulers, shopping bags, membership cards and printed material of every kind.  We’ve also won one or two awards and trophies along the way which would look very splendid in a display case.   If anyone is interested in helping us to celebrate our history, has any expertise in this area, or any relevant items they’d like to donate to a HEY-CU archive, do please get in touch!

TAKE FIVE – TO STOP FRAUD

We are always anxious to help our members to stay safe and avoid becoming victims of financial fraud.  That’s why we’re supporting Take Five – a national campaign led by Financial Fraud Action and backed by HM Government, that offers straightforward and impartial advice to help everyone stay clear of preventable financial fraud.

Many of us think we’d never fall for a fraudulent text or email, but criminals are more sophisticated than ever.  Take a test to see if you can spot the fraud and know when it’s time to say ‘My money? My info? I don’t think so’.

It’s worth remembering, your bank, credit union or the police will never:

·        phone and ask you for your PIN or full banking password, even by tapping them into your phone keypad;

·        ask you to withdraw money to hand over to them for safe-keeping;

·        ask you to transfer money to a safe account for fraud reasons, even if they say the account is in your name;

·        send someone to your home to collect cash, PIN, cards or cheque books if you are a victim of fraud;

·        ask you to purchase goods using your card and then hand them over for safe-keeping.

FESTIVE OPENING TIMES

As Santa and his helpers prepare to make their deliveries, here at HEY-CU the seasonal work of our staff and volunteer team will be almost done, and we’ll be ready for a little rest.  So, some of our branches will have different opening times between 18 December and 2 January.  Check out here when your branch will be open.  Our phone lines will open the same days as Hull Central branch.

Everyone at HEY-CU sends seasonal greetings and wishes all friends a happy, healthy and prosperous 2018.

John’s Blog – June & July

The month of June has perhaps been one of the busiest in our Credit Union’s history, so there’s lots to tell you about…

Now we are 18!

Your Credit Union was registered with the then Registrar of Friendly Societies on 10^th June 1999, so this month we attained our 18^th anniversary.  This significant milestone was marked by the cutting of a special birthday cake at our Central Office in Hull by our President, Alan Hignett and our guest from the Pen Fed Credit Union, Georgia, USA, Sherry Saxon.
 

HEYCU began life as the credit union for Hull City Council staff and their families and our first office was a back room down a corridor in the city’s magnificent Guildhall.  We were only open on Wednesday lunch times at first and run entirely by volunteers.  Despite this, with the enthusiastic support of the Council workforce, we grew rapidly, beating our three year plan targets in the first year! 

 

The first ever loans we granted were to help members to buy shares in the city’s own telecommunications business, KCom, which had just floated on the stock market!   Now, we make loans for less unusual purposes, such as holidays, Christmas, home improvements, cars and family celebrations, and more besides.

It’s remarkable to think that we have since expanded to become one of Britain’s top 15 credit unions, with over 40 payroll partners (including the DWP, one of the largest government departments) as well as serving over 10,000 members who live and work in the Humber Region. 

As someone who was there at the start, seeing our CU “come of age” is a great personal thrill.  I’d like to pay tribute to all who have shared the journey, including Eddie (our Finance Manager) and John Bailey (Director) whose involvement, like mine, has spanned the whole 18 year period.

If you want to learn more about our fascinating history, there’s a timeline on our website. 

Our new website

Have you seen our new website?  Early in June, with the help of Cornerstone Mutual Services, we switched over to our fresh look site. Our loan and savings products are displayed much more clearly and the improved loan calculator (with an easy to use slider bar) is proving a big hit with members eager to work out the repayments on a CU Loan.

It’s so easy to navigate – on your smartphone, tablet, laptop or desk computer – whether you are looking to join online, download forms or documents, or access one of our partner sites such as Co-op Energy or the Co-op Electrical Store. 

Why not take a browse today, and then give us some feedback?   We are always keen to hear what our members think.

Fairbanking Mark awarded

I am thrilled to announce that we’ve been awarded a 5-star Fairbanking Mark for our Credit Union Loan products.

The prestigious mark, awarded by the Fairbanking Foundation, recognises that our CU Loan has the required features to make a positive impact on consumers’ financial well-being.  If you have had a CU Loan, you’ll be familiar with these admired features, which include:

·         providing loan applicants with a budget planner to help them work our whether they can afford to repay a loan;

·         allowing borrowers to settle early without a fee or penalty charge; and

·         encouraging our members to save alongside their loan repayments, which supports a savings habit, and gives an incentive to continue savings when the loan is completed.

Very few banking organisations have achieved a Fairbanking Mark so far, and even fewer one with 5-stars.  Before a mark is awarded, the bank or credit union undergoes a rigorous independent survey when members or customers are asked for their views on the product and their experience of using it.   We’d like to thank all our members who took part in the survey and helped us to gain our award.

Antony Elliott, the CEO of the Fairbanking Foundation said “We’ve now worked with eleven credit unions to enable their personal loans to be granted the Fairbanking Mark.  The evidence shows that credit unions are playing an increasingly important role in people’s financial lives in the UK.”

  

Visit by Georgia League of Credit Unions

The UK credit union movement and the Credit Union League of Georgia, USA have formed a partnership to work together for mutual benefit over a ten year period.  Credit unions are huge in the USA and have been around for much longer than in the UK, so we have much to learn from their experiences.

So, it was truly a pleasure to welcome Mrs Sherry Saxon, the Regional Director of PenFed Credit Union in Augusta, and her husband Sidney, to Hull & East Yorkshire Credit Union from 12 to 16 June.  Sherry worked with me, and our directors, to look at how we can further develop our loans business, and revamp our head office to provide an even better experience for our members. She attended a Board meeting, to explain how her credit union had grown from a micro-business to the multi-million dollar organisation that it is today, and how we might follow in their path, while staying true to our co-operative not-for-profit ethos. And she visited all our branches and met the directors and staff socially, which was a most enjoyable experience. 

During their time in Hull, Sherry and Sidney visited Hull’s Guildhall and were treated to afternoon tea with the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress.  They were so impressed with this wonderful historic building.  We should also like to thank the Leader of the Council, Steven Brady, for spending time with them to talk about Hull’s development strategy.  It was a memorable visit and we hope to see them again at some point.

Howden contact point opens

Wednesday 21^st June was a special day for us as we opened a new Credit Union contact point to serve the town of Howden.  Thanks to the kind support of the Co-operative Group, we will have a table inside the large Co-op supermarket in Charles Briggs Avenue every Wednesday from 12 noon to 2 pm.

At the contact point residents can join our credit union, pay in savings deposits, apply for loans and ask about our services.  Howden is one of the rural communities that has sadly lost its main bank, so we are pleased to offer an alternative savings and loans facility without residents needing to travel to Goole.

Our opening day was also special because we introduced Penny Penguin, our new penny-wise mascot.  Penny was very popular with the youngsters as she toured the town, handing out balloons and posing for “selfies”. 

While Penny was busy at the Co-op I popped our leaflets through doors to announce our arrival in town, and enjoyed meeting the people of this lovely historic town.

CU staff take part in Hull 10k

Congratulations to my staff colleagues, Sandra, Sarah (and her husband Paul), Matthew, Steve and Kathryn on completing the Hull 10k Run recently.  Proudly displaying the HEYCU logo on their running tops, they did amazingly well especially on the hottest day of the year!

New Lottery sponsors

We are delighted to welcome the Hull Branch of UNISON, the public service union, as our main Members’ Lottery sponsors.  UNISON have provided funding for three extra lottery prizes each month, so we hope even more members will sign up for lottery tickets (£1 each, deducted monthly from your CU Savings).  There’s at least £550 in prizes to be won each month, plus a bumper triple draw at Christmas, so don’t miss out – apply today! 

Hull’s wonderful news

Our home city has been gaining lots of deserved applause for embracing its City of Culture status so well.   So it was wonderful to learn that £27.5 million funding – including a £15 million National Heritage Lottery grant – had been secured for a major tourism investment in Yorkshire’s Maritime City.

The seven-year project will see the Arctic Corsair – Hull’s last remaining trawler – move to a new berth in a dry dock on the River Hull, alongside a visitor centre; a facelift for the Maritime Museum in Queen Victoria Square, including public access to a rooftop dome; a new home for some of the city’s historic maritime treasures opposite; and a refit for the Spurn Lightship.

It’s great news that 74 jobs, 10 apprenticeships and hundreds of volunteer roles will be created, with the 300,000 extra visitors to the city in the first year boosting the city’s economy by over £1.4 million. 

Well done to all who helped to make this happen – it’s fantastic that the City Plan ambition of creating a world-class destination on our doorstep is being realised.

Summer Events in our Region

Well, it’s summer at last, so let’s take a trip around our Credit Union region and find some ideas for outdoor events that you might like to attend:

Sat 1st - Sun 2nd July	Winterton Agricultural Show
Sun 2nd  July	Howden Show
Tue 11th July 2 - 3.30pm	Oldfleet Primary School, Greatfield Celebration
Thu 13th July 2 - 3.30pm	Stockwell Primary School, Greatfield Celebration
Sat 15th July – 11 am - 3pm	Greatfield 60 Street Party: Meet at St Hilda's at 11am for the parade to St Stephen’s where the 'street party' will be held.
Sat 15th – Sun 16th July	Open Gardens at Winterton
Wed 19th July	Driffield Show
Sat 22nd July 1 – 4 pm	Viking Barton Family Fun Day
Sat 22nd – Sun 23rd July	Withernsea Carnival, Steam Rally and Parade
Tue 1st August	Yorkshire Day at Sewerby Park, Bridlington – a celebration of all things Yorkshire
Wed 2nd August 11 am to 3.30 pm	Ongo Carnival Scunthorpe
Fri 18th to Sun 20th August	Old Goole Gala

Summer Loans

Would some extra funds come in handy for holiday spending money, holiday clothes or equipment?   Don’t forget we have five-star CU Loans available at competitive rates to suit all pockets.  Check out our website today!