Pictured above are Rossendale RT628 Chairman, Anil Joshi, along with Bill Greenwood from Haslingden & Helmshore Credit Union, & David King from Rossendale 41 Club.

Bill Greenwood was invited to speak about his credit union at a recent Rossendale Round Table meeting. Bill spoke of his long involvement with Credit Unions. Bill is now retired but still spends a great deal of time helping Haslingden & Helmshore Credit Union (HHCU).

HHCU is run entirely on a voluntary basis, and has over 30 helpers who assist in ensuring the smooth running of the credit union.

The purpose of the credit union is to encourage people to save, and to provide easy, flexible, low cost loans. The typical borrower will struggle to borrow from larger commercial institutions for a variety of reasons. HHCU is a community based organisation, and is open to all locals who live or work in the catchment area.

HHCU has been established since 1993, and in that time it has lent over £300,000. HHCU is proud of its bad debt history. In the 12 years of its existence, it has only suffered bad debts totalling £600.

HHCU is looking for help regarding computers and software. Rossendale Round Table has a number of IT professionals, and we agreed that we would get together to help HHCU.

HHCU is currently seeking premises in either Haslingden or Accrington town centre. The organisation has had to move out of the offices it previously used because premise it previously occupied are now being sold.

If you know of any freehold premises in the locality, please get in touch with Bill Greenwood on  01706 215082.