MP visits Credit Union to celebrate money boost

John Battle MP (Lab, Leeds West) will visit Leeds City Credit Union (LCCU) on Friday (20 April) to celebrate a £25,000 donation from the Barclays Financial Inclusion Fund.

The money will be used in a new project, Bridging the Gap, that will build on their branch expansion project and provide a new marketing and outreach initiative to support Leeds residents with special needs.

Mr Battle said: “As a member of both Leeds City Credit Union and Bramley Credit Union, I know personally that credit unions are a reliable alternative to high-interest and doorstep lenders. Leeds City Credit Union is a crucial and pioneering service providing affordable credit for local residents. This donation will allow the credit union to build on their success and reach even more clients.”

Mr Battle has campaigned in West Leeds to get more people to join credit unions instead of going to high-interest lenders. “The more people that join credit unions, the stronger those credit unions will be and the more services they will be able to offer. It’s worth saying that credit unions are not just for people on low incomes: they offer a lower rate of interest and an opportunity for us to reinvest in our local communities,” he added.

©John Battle MP 20 April 2007