Loans deliver White Christmas for CDHT residents
The first resident to have successfully applied for a low cost loan has had her new fridge and cooker installed in time for Christmas.
Katie Pendrey, 21, will cook her family Christmas dinner on her new cooker, thanks to the successful partnership of three Chester organisations. Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) is working with West Cheshire Credit Union (formerly Chester Credit Union and Ellesmere Port & Neston Credit Union) and the Chester branch of Comet to offer loans for washing machines, cookers, fridges, freezers or microwaves. The ongoing relationship between the companies is designed to offer residents affordable loans, which are aimed to bridge initial costs when residents move home. It also offers residents sensible saving plans and sound financial management.
West Cheshire Credit Union is a not-for-profit community based organisation, which has interview rooms at CDHT’s Centurion House, Northgate Street, Chester offices. The offices are open in reception on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10am to 11.30pm, where customers can join West Cheshire Credit Union, deposit money and also hand in requests for share withdrawals and loan applications.
Katie Pendrey, of Colchester Square, Lache, said:
“I am delighted with my new cooker and fridge. I have only moved into this property several weeks ago and without the Credit Union loan I would never have been able to afford a new cooker and fridge so soon and definitely not in time for Christmas.”
Paul Knight, CDHT Assistant Director Performance & Income, added:
“This has been a really successful scheme, showing three Chester organisations working in partnership for the good of residents. Initially, the white goods scheme has been offered to new tenants or tenants who are changing properties, but if it’s a success it is intended to open it to existing tenants at the end of the pilot scheme. We have been working closely with West Cheshire Credit Union since 2007 and want to raise the awareness of their services to our customers and individuals across Chester and West Cheshire who may have issues with multiple debts and problems establishing savings – this is particularly relevant in the run-up to Christmas, when money is tight for everyone. The West Cheshire Credit Union provides a secure way of saving, as well as low interest loans, which is a much better option than borrowing from loan sharks or any other high interest lender. West Cheshire Credit Union has a social conscience and has a similar philosophy to the Trust, offering what we consider to be the best services for our customers.”
Neil Jay, Manager of West Cheshire Credit Union, said:
“The introduction of the ‘White Goods Loan Scheme’ has proved popular and reinforces the partnership work between West Cheshire Credit Union and Chester and District Housing Trust. We are delighted to be in a position to offer new tenants of the Trust the ability to apply for a loan to cover essential white goods items. Our aim is to avoid Tenants choosing to use high interest lenders, or doorstep lenders as a means of credit and in reality paying, in some cases with interest, two or three times the value of the goods purchased.”
Anyone who lives or works in West Cheshire and Chester boundaries can apply to West Cheshire Credit Union. You must become a member to apply for loans and terms and conditions apply.
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Caption (L-R): Gemma Barnes, CDHT Customer Accounts Assistant, with CDHT resident Katie Pendrey and her new fridge purchased through West Cheshire Credit Union
For more information and photos please visit:
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Notes to editors:
Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) is a dynamic and enterprising organisation at the forefront of delivering positive impacts in the communities with which it works. The Trust’s homes span six communities – Blacon North; Blacon South; Chester City Area; The Rurals; Lache and Handbridge; Upton, Hoole, Newton and Plas Newton.
Committed to the best principles of social enterprise with over 14,000 local customers in 6,200 properties and 53% of its 275 colleagues living within its communities, the Trust adheres to key commitments and principles relating to people, places, partnerships and performance which underpin the Vision to ‘create opportunity’, through its mission, ‘by doing the right thing’.
The Trust is about being transparent and accountable in everything that is done and to this end is one of the first organisations nationally to have established a Residents’ Board, with full delegated powers from the Trust Board, to direct services which impact upon their lives.
The Trust has a comprehensive development programme delivering over 330 new homes including the £12million regeneration of the Treborth Road area of Chester providing new homes for rent, sale and shared ownership, as well as a village green and wildlife habitats.
CDHT also provides services on a partnership basis, to a number of other customers e.g. Telecare services, TrustWorks Maintenance Services, Housing Options advice, waiting list management and choice based lettings to neighbouring local authorities and registered social landlords.
The Trust is rated as two Star excellent by the Audit Commission, has the highest possible rating from Telecare Services Association and is also credited Investors in People and is the overall Employer of the Year For Cheshire West. It has been in the ‘Top 100 Sunday Times best companies to work for’ for the last 2 years.
For more details please visit Click here to view the website or request a copy of CDHT’s Corporate Plan 2009-2014.
CDHT Press Contacts: Phil Brotherhood
Click here to email Phil
M: 07884 493370
Jane Harrad-Roberts
Click here to email Jane
M: 07785 395705
W: Click here to view the website
T: 01244 330000
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