Managing Money

Helps people who are in debt or have other financial problems.

Financial exclusion means that some people do not have access to, or the skills to use, the mainstream financial products that the majority benefit from. They pay a fee to cash a cheque, are subject to very high interest charges when borrowing money or purchasing goods on credit and pay extra to warm their homes. Without savings they cannot build any financial reserve to see them through the ups and downs of daily life, without insurance they cannot mitigate risk and without a pension they rely on the state to provide for them in old age.

It is important that everyone has access to basic financial products including a bank account, low cost credit, insurance and savings. The Foundation is interested in supporting the capacity of credit unions to provide affordable credit and other financial products by funding improved governance, product development and marketing.

The Foundation is also interested in encouraging leadership within the sector and is keen to help credit unions to share costs, to grow their common bond and to merge together.