ABCUL Celebrates Volunteers’ Week by Honouring Credit Union Trailblazers Past and Present

Thursday 5 June 2025

As the UK marks Volunteers’ Week, ABCUL is paying tribute to the thousands of volunteers who have shaped the credit union movement from its earliest beginnings to the present day. First launched in 1984, Volunteers’ Week is the UK’s biggest celebration of those who give their time to help others, recognising the vital role volunteers play across society.

Volunteering has always been at the heart of the credit union movement. In fact, credit unions in Britain were founded and driven forward by volunteers—community-minded individuals committed to providing fair and ethical financial services where they were most needed.

This week, ABCUL is honouring both the volunteers who continue to support credit unions today and the pioneers who sparked the movement over 60 years ago. Among those early trailblazers were Jamaican immigrants living in North London who, concerned about the lack of fair credit options, came together to form the Hornsey Co-operative Credit Union in April 1964. Drawing on their experiences of credit unions in the Caribbean, they laid the groundwork for a sector that now serves communities across the country.

ABCUL CEO, Matt Bland, stated: “From the earliest days – when credit unions were built from the ground up by community members – to today’s modern and professional institutions, their legacy lives on. While today’s credit unions operate to the highest standards of professionalism, we are proud that volunteers continue to support our movement, particularly through their role in governance and strategic leadership as board members.”

Today, while the sector has grown and evolved into a professional part of the financial services landscape, volunteers remain central – bringing their time, talent and dedication to strengthen community ties and uphold cooperative values.

“As we celebrate Volunteers’ Week, we recognise the deep roots of volunteerism in our history and the continued importance of people giving their time and expertise today,” Matt added. “Their commitment to the principle of ‘people helping people’ remains a defining characteristic of the credit union movement.”