Credit Union Oral History Project Up and Running

Tuesday 23 January 2024

The Credit Union Foundation’s Save and Sound Project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund with money raised by lottery players, has moved online.  A team of eight volunteers has been trained by the Oral History Society and is using a podcasting platform to link up with interviewees across the north of England.  The interviews will become part of the national oral history collection cared for by the British Library where they will be available to generations of researchers.

The project has interviews lined up for the coming months but is still keen for people with memories of credit unions before 2000 to get in touch and share their stories.  The online platform means that people can see each other but only the sound is recorded.  So that audio quality can be assured, people sharing their memories are provided with a microphone and headphones, as well as full instructions.

It is through the support of partners, the dedication of volunteers and the flexibility of interviewees that the project has been able to continue.  The interview team is drawn from people with many years of involvement in the sector and others with none; what they have in common is a commitment to preserving credit union heritage.

Project Manager Abbie Shelton said: “We have already recorded some fascinating stories; I am really thankful for all the advice we have received, and I am proud of our volunteers who have risen admirably to the challenge of learning new technologies and techniques.

“We are really grateful to everyone who has already come forward, but we are still looking for more people to share their story.  No matter what role you played in a credit union, your memories will help us tell the story of early credit unions and raise awareness of credit union heritage.”

If you are interested in contributing your memories to the project, or have photos or other items that you could share for inclusion on a new credit union heritage website, you can contact Project Manager Abbie Shelton at abbie.shelton@creditunionfoundation.org.uk or visit Save & Sound’s webpage here  for more information.