Opening of Gillingham service point successfully launches Blackmore Vale branch

Volunteers at the opening of Blackmore Vale branch's first service point in Gillingham on 8 September. From left to right: Nicholas Mellersh (Shaftesbury), Rev Gordon Elford (branch treasurer, Gillingham), Richard Thomas (Shaftesbury), Wendy Nelson (Gillingham), Rosemary Britten (FDCU president, Dorchester), Kay Day (Gillingham), David Preston (Blackmore Vale branch chairman, Shaftesbury), Carrie Baker (Kilmington), and David Milsted (Gillingham).

More than four years of planning and hard work by north Dorset volunteers came to successful fruition on September 8 when the Blackmore Vale branch of First Dorset Credit Union (FDCU) opened for business for the first time at Gillingham Methodist Church.

Gillingham resident Tony Hearn was the first customer into the new service point promptly on 10am and by the time the doors closed two hours later another seven people had signed up, depositing some £1700. 'It has been a very successful first month and we are delighted,' said branch chairman David Preston. 'As well as those who joined and deposited money we had several people coming in asking for more details and taking away information.

Gillingham volunteer Kay Day congratulates Gillingham member Tony Hearn on being the new Blackmore Vale branch's first customer.

'We are now well on the way to starting to help those in the Blackmore Vale area who need our help and hopefully we will see even more people at the service point from now on.'

Blackmore Vale branch's Gillingham service point is open every Saturday from 10am to 12noon at Gillingham Methodist Church, Gillingham High Street. (map)

The Blackmore Vale branch is the latest addition to the growth of the credit union movement in Dorset and follows the Financial Services Authority's approval in June of FDCU's application to extend its 'common bond' area - its area of coverage - to north Dorset.

In welcoming the new service First Dorset Credit Union president Rosemary Britten said FDCU's common bond area now covers the whole of rural Dorset. 'This will not only increase our own strength but also provide the people of Dorset with the sort of low-cost and flexible financial support services they need and want.' she said. 'We look forward to as many local people as possible making use of this new local service.'

What's next?
Organisers hope that the Gillingham service point will be followed by others in Shaftesbury, Sturminster Newton, Blandford and Mere as soon as enough volunteers come forward.

It is hoped the Shaftesbury service point will open in St Peter's church adjacent to the town hall in the High Street on Thursdays (market day). All service points are run by trained volunteers.

Footnote
Credit unions offer low cost and flexible savings and loans services based on local 'service points' run on a cooperative basis by specially trained local volunteers and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Starting in Dorset in 1999 in Dorchester, First Dorset Credit Union now covers the whole of north and west Dorset with branches in Bridport, Weymouth and Portland, and Sherborne.

A credit union for the Blackmore Vale was first mooted by Shaftesbury-based Swans Trust community development trust in 1998 and began to become a reality following a feasibility study carried out in 2003 by Dorset Cooperative Agency with funding from Dorset 'Chalk + Cheese' programme and North Dorset District Council.

For more details on First Dorset Credit Union and credit unions see following pages...