Pictured above: Koyelia Sirkar, Citysave North West
Birmingham outreach officer who will be based at Birmingham
Settlement's Centre for the Aston Family
Leading community based charity, Birmingham Settlement is
working with Citysave Credit Union, a not for profit financial
co-operative to provide financial services for young adults.
Carly Duignan, fundraising and communications manager for
Birmingham Settlement, said: "Recent research has shown that more
and more people are turning to high rate loans to help them through
these austere times. This project will help families use the credit
union effectively and specifically young adults manage their money
so that they are not forced into the position of having to borrow
at extortionate rates, sometimes as high as 3,000 per
cent."
The new arrangement will provide easy access to affordable loans
for those living in North West of Birmingham, and ensure that
anyone who applies receives budgeting and financial capability
advice, as well as savings plans and other affordable financial
services.
Koyelia Sirkar, Citysave North West Birmingham outreach officer,
will be based at Birmingham Settlement's Centre for the Aston
Family every morning, from 9am to 12noon Monday to Friday from the
beginning of April.
Koyelia says: "I am looking forward to working in this area, and
helping more people save regularly, as well as assist in access to
our other financial services. We will have a full credit union
offering based from the centre daily, and I shall be arranging
money advice sessions from Birmingham Settlement for all our new
members to help them maximise their money."
Carly adds: "This is a pioneering partnership that tackles some
of the causes of money problems at a community level, giving people
the skills they need to manage their finances, as well as help to
maximise income and reducing expenditure, a true Big Society
project in action."
Angela Clements, CEO of Citysave Credit Union advises: "Credit
unions are becoming the everyman's bank, and we feel it is
important to bring our services into this area of Birmingham, which
is seeing a rise in high cost lenders. We are very keen to find new
ways to deliver our services, and we are delighted to extend our
working arrangements with Birmingham Settlement."