The credit union sector celebrates International Women’s Day

Tuesday 23 January 2024

8 March was International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Credit unions in the UK and around the world are active in supporting the role of women and gender equality.

“I’d like to pay tribute to all my female colleagues in our movement, from volunteers to senior staff to board members,” says ABCUL President, Karen Bennett. “International Women’s Day is a day to reflect and celebrate the amazing women in our lives. Britain’s credit unions have a strong track record of female leadership in board and managerial positions, and on IWD 8 March 2021, it was great to see credit unions not just in Great Britain, but all over the world raising awareness.”

In 2019, the British sector launched its Women’s Leadership Network. The network is part of a global movement that is dedicated to addressing the gender imbalance among credit union leadership positions worldwide.  Since its establishment, the Global Women’s Leadership Network GWLN has grown to more than 2600 female and male members with more than 80 chapters across 18 countries.

Chair of the British Network and CEO of Tail O’ The Bank Credit Union, Beth Welsh said: “GWLN forms an important part of the credit union networking infrastructure giving members a safe space to discuss the high and lows to being a credit union leader, it is especially important within the current climate of self-isolation to provide an outlet and support to all members. It is also an aim of GWLN to ensure that equality is entrenched with the sector.”

Research carried out by ABCUL shows that 55% of credit unions in Great Britain are led by a woman. The Association continues to work to improve the representation of women at senior levels through the recently formed its ABCUL Inclusivity Group that is committed to ensure that a diverse range of appropriately skilled candidates is available each year for election to the ABCUL Board. Speaking about her experience as a female CEO, Valerie Walwyn-Tait, Chief Executive of Plane Saver Credit Union and member the AIG Board says: “I have always felt like an outsider amongst my peers, both as a woman and as a person of colour. I believe other women in the sector have to work harder for longer to gain any credibility for what we are able to do or achieve. We should be looking to the future and decide what we want this Sector to look like to the outside world and set ourselves targets to ensure this becomes a reality.

“I am part of a small group of female CU leaders who have come together over the last year to provide a safe space for women to seek peer to peer support, that is uncompetitive, mutually respectful, honest, and is totally focused on our agenda as women in leaders in the sector.  It’s been my tonic throughout the pandemic and has provided much inspirations, solutions and laughter.”

In a recent interview with Chief Executive of Cooperatives UK, Rose Marley told ABCUL: “For any young aspiring females in credit unions, I hold a monthly surgery which anyone can book onto and I would be more than happy to share my knowledge and advice directly. My main advice would be, that you are more than the sum of your parts when you co-operate with people to achieve an end goal, so start practicing now.”