CU Futures Cohort Visit Dublin for Immersive Learning Experience

Friday 27 February 2026

The class of CU Futures 2026 cohort travelled to Dublin in February as part of the Credit Union Foundation’s leadership development programme, gaining first-hand insight into the Irish credit union movement and the wider co-operative ecosystem.

Launched in 2016, CU Futures has supported 91 graduates from credit unions across England, Scotland and Wales to build their leadership capability and strengthen the future pipeline of talent within the sector. The Dublin visit formed a key part of the 2026 cohort’s learning journey, offering participants the opportunity to learn from peers, explore different operating models, and build lasting connections across borders.

The two-day visit was hosted by CMutual at The Capel Building on Capel Street. The programme began with an introduction to CMutual, with insights into who they are and what they do, followed by a series of guest sessions from across the Irish credit union movement.

Participants heard from Helen Carberry, CEO of the Credit Union Development Association (CUDA), who shared perspectives on supporting credit unions across Ireland, and Alan Roche of Heritage Credit Union, who presented Our Credit Union Story – A Legacy of Financial Excellence. Stuart Agnew of Community Credit Union had been due to speak but sent his apologies; as a result, the sessions with Helen and Alan were extended, allowing for deeper discussion and Q&A with the group.

On the second day, the cohort visited Health Services Staff Credit Union (HSSCU) to learn more about their operations and member engagement. Following the visit, John McNamara kindly led a walking tour of Dublin, giving participants a chance to see more of the city while reflecting informally on the learning from the visit.

Lucille Harvey, Credit Union Foundation Manager, said: “CU Futures is about giving emerging leaders the space to step back, learn from others, and see what’s possible for our movement. The Dublin visit was a fantastic opportunity for the cohort to hear directly from colleagues in Ireland, explore different approaches in practice, and build relationships that will last well beyond the programme. We’re grateful to CMutual, HSSCU and all of our speakers and hosts for the warm welcome and the openness with which they shared their experiences.”

The 2026 CU Futures cohort will graduate at the ABCUL Annual Conference on Saturday 12 September 2026 at The Queens Hotel, Leeds.