pcusharesDecember 2016

InsideLauren on Loans 210 tips to save energy and cut your bills 2#Gimme Dat video launched 3Meet the young leaders of tomorrow 3Focus on: The Rose family 4Keep the Faith features thePCU’s work 4

News from the Pentecostal Credit Union

Merry Christmas from the PCU Board

“We finished refitting our officesand held a small event to re-dedicatethe building and re-open it – at thesame time paying tribute to the Rev.Jones, who founded the Credit Union.

“We held a successful AGM in March.

“In July, the Rev. Jones hosted ourfirst PCU Lunch and Pray event,bringing in senior pastors to supportthe PCU through prayer.

“University student Emmanuel Sampahcompleted a placement with us inthe spring, while Jabril Isaak gainedsummer work experience.

“With young people central to thisyear’s work, we launched a newYouth Shadow Board earlier in theyear. They have since worked on the#Gimme Dat video and taken partin the #CreateAmazing youthdevelopment programme.

“In September, we launched a newcampaign to attract young savers,gaining 10 new young members inthe first month alone.

“Our new marketing strategy isalso attracting three times as manynew adult members, with a key partof this success being down to theRoadshow workshops we ran forchurches from June to October.

“With the PCU going from strengthto strength, we wish all our membersthe very best for the New Year.”

From the Board of the PCU

“As we get ready to celebrate Christmas in our churches and with our families,we’re looking back over an exciting year for the PCU.

#GimmeDatvideo launched

Meet the young leaders of tomorrow

“I absolutely love Christmas. This yearmy Nan will be coming down fromHerne Bay and spending the week withus, so we’re planning a big familyChristmas. But a big family Christmascan be expensive and it’s reallytempting to spend more money thanyou’ve actually got. I find it best tomake a spending plan or budget andstick to it.

Christmas loans“To really make Christmas moreaffordable, why not spread the costof the festivities by taking out a low-cost loan from the Credit Union? Thislets you spread the repayments overthe year, so that the loan is repaidbefore next Christmas.

“Last year, one member borrowed£1,000 at £92 a month. By thefollowing year she had repaid the£1,100 she owed. But because sheopted to put £100 into her accounteach month, the extra £8 wenttowards her savings.

“By the end of the year, her savingshad grown. She was so happy withthis arrangement – because it took

PCU-Money, our Youth Shadow Board, released theirrap video on 7 October – using the power of music toencourage young people to wise up on money mattersand resist spending money on things they don’t need.

The video features the #GimmedDat song, sung by up-and-coming rap artist Tneek. It was shot on the streetsof Balham and Brixton and includes members of theYouth Shadow Board, alongside the singer.

The PCU’s CEO Shane Bowes explains: “We don’t wantyoung people to fall into the trap of not being financiallyaware – especially following a BBC report stating thatmillions of adults have little or no savings.

“The Youth Shadow Board are using music to send amuch-needed message that it’s important for youngpeople to increase their financial awareness, becomemoney wise and save their money for their future.”

We are now using the video, together with money talks,to kick-start conversations about money matters atevents for young people in London and the Midlands.

Nine members of the Youth Shadow Board, togetherwith four from the New Life Assembly SupplementarySchool, took part in an exciting four-day YouthLeadership Programme during the autumn half-term.

The programme was designed and delivered by the EmpireBuilders Academy and took place at South Bank University.

The young people, aged from 10 to 16, learned aboutleadership and money management, and were encouragedto think about ‘their next bold move’.

The #CreateAmazing week was truly inspirational, withtalks led by successful entrepreneurs and leaders, also intheir teens.

Lauren on loans

See our video at: https://youtu.be/R8ajXiTPdbI

On the final day, the young people visited Google HQ inTottenham Court Road, where they were treated to lunch.They also met with senior black executives, including OonaKing, formerly MP for Bethnal Green and Bow. She is nowBaroness King of Bow, with a place in the House of Lords,and is global Diversity Director for YouTube.

Over the next three months, the young people will continueto have one-to-one mentoring sessions and monthly groupreviews, to strengthen their learning from the programme.

away the stress of worrying abouthow she was going to affordChristmas – that she has just appliedto the same this year.

Consolidation loans“After Christmas can also be a worry, ifyou’ve spent more than you meant to– especially if you’ve paid with creditor store cards. If that happens to you,why not take out a low-cost PCU loanto consolidate your borrowing? Thenyou can save money by repaying thebalance at a cheaper rate of interest.

“Christmas doesn’t have to bestressful financially. We’re here to help!

“Have a great Christmas and afabulously Prosperous New Year.”

With best wishes, Lauren

“Hi, I’m Lauren and I’m thePCU’s Business and LoansAdministrator.

“I’ve worked at PCU for nearly fouryears now and, last year, I waspromoted to my current role. I processloan applications and I’m responsiblefor member communications.

“What I love about working at PCU isthat no two days are the same. Butwhat really gives me job satisfactionis that we help people – sometimes in

desperatesituations.People do rely

on us andit’s reallynice to beable to sayyes,

especiallyat thistime ofyear.

Get your boiler serviced everyyear to make sure it’srunning efficiently.

Turn your heating down by1°C to save up to £90 a year.

Set your water thermostat tobetween 60-65°C – that’shot enough to kill bacteria,but not enough to scald.

Bleed your radiators with aradiator key and back withreflector boards or tin foil ifthey are against outside walls.

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10 tips to save energy and cut your billsStop draughts from windowsand doors. Cling film and heavycurtains work well. (But if youhave condensation, rememberto ventilate your home too.)

Switch off lights when leavinga room – Switching lights offfor a few seconds could saveyou up to £15 a year.

Don’t leave appliances onstandby. Switching off your TV,phone charger and otherappliances saves you money.

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Use energy-saving lightbulbs.LED spotlights and energy-saving bulbs could save youup to £35 a year.

Save on your laundry. Onlyrun full loads and wash at30°C, not 40°C (except forbedding and towels).

Spend less time in the shower.One minute less a day couldsave £10 each year.

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See the full #GimmeDat video at:https://youtu.be/PparrsqHKho

Pentecostal Credit Union Limited 15 Oldridge Road, Balham, London SW12 8PL Phone 020 8673 2542 Email info@pcuuk.com Web www.pcuuk.com /pentecostalcreditunion @PentecostalCU

The Pentecostal Credit Union is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (FRN 213242).

Shawn and Lorraine have been marriedfor 10 years and have two daughters– Hannah Grace, who is seven, andShania, who is four. The couple live inCroydon and worship at the Place ofRefuge ministry.

The saving habitThe PCU has worked well for Shawn .He says: “The main thing is that theyencourage you to save. I never used tosave before joining the PCU. I wouldsave and then raid my savings, butnever build up anything significant. Notso now. With PCU you can borrow andsave at the same time. This has reallyhelped me develop a habit of saving.

“Shane [our CEO] is always ready tolisten and help as far as possible. Thebanks don’t treat you like that – theydon’t listen. If they decline you a loan,you can’t talk to them about yourneeds. They’re not flexible in any way.

“With PCU, they look at yourcircumstances and arrange a packageyou can manage. When you build upa relationship with PCU, and pay yourloans on time, your credit score isn’tthe only deciding factor.

“I’ve had many loans from PCU overthe years. I like the flexibility ofchoosing how you repay – the lengthof time and affordability of payments.I’ve had loans for home improvements,consolidation of other borrowing at acheaper rate and purchasing a car.

“I had a loan from a hire purchasecompany to buy a car and then I hadlots of problems with the car and Ihad a large bill. I went to Shane andtold him about it, as I wanted to payoff the hire purchase and repair the

vehicle. To my surprise he said yes –PCU could help. He looked at myaccount and said I was a very goodcustomer.

“I’m a self-employed builder and Ihave a lot of contracts and some ofthem are large. I have people whowork for me and cash flow cansometimes be a problem. KnowingPCU can help me with this is important.

“I have brought many people to PCUand I have joined my whole family.One message I would give is thatyou’re investing in your future. Thatencouragement to save providessome protection for the future.”

A family ChristmasShawn and the family will be goingto his mother-in-law’s for dinner thisyear. “It will be a quiet familyChristmas, nothing too extravagant.We will be enjoying each other’scompany, which we don’t always getthe chance to do.”

Although Christmas is quite expensivefor the Roses, as Shawn and Shaniaboth have birthdays, Shawn says: “Idon’t need to borrow for Christmasbut, if I did, I know that the option isthere. They really have a listening ear.”

We wish the Rose family a veryhappy family Christmas.

Keep the Faithfeatures PCUThe PCU got great coveragerecently, when Keep the Faithmagazine featured us in theirNovember edition.

The article on page 4, references ourLet’s Talk about Money workshopsfor young people, as well as thelaunch of Gimme Dat, the videomade by the Youth Shadow Board.

Keep the Faith has large readershipin print and online, so our goodnews has travelled far afield. Youcan view the article here:https://issuu.com/keepthefaith/docs/keep_the_faith_magazine_issue_99

Focus on: The Rose family

For Shawn and Lorraine Rose, the PCU is very much afamily affair. Shawn has been a member since 2010 andjoined after his mother-in-law recommended us.

Christmas opening: We will be closed from 5pm on Friday 23December 2016 and reopen at 9am on Tuesday 3 January 2017. Our online service will be available throughout the holiday period