Westcountry Savings and Loans Secures Grant to Boost Financial Inclusion

Friday 27 June 2025

Westcountry Savings and Loans (WS&L) credit union is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a grant of more than £200,000 by Fair4All Finance.

The grant, which has come from Fair4All Finance’s Community Finance Resilience Fund, will support WS&L’s growth plans and help it to make affordable credit available to more households across the South-West.

Steve Thorrington, WS&L’s CEO described the grant as a gamechanger for both the credit union and communities within its common bond, which extends from Somerset to Cornwall.

A large part of the grant will be used to upgrade WS&L’s IT and internal systems, including the launch of a new website, with the aim of making the customer journey smoother for members.

Funds will also be set aside for a range of new products and services specifically for customers of housing providers in the South-West who form part of the Credit Union Sustainability Partnership (CUSP).

Other plans include the appointment of a project manager who will be responsible for developing and implementing business activities, and a strategic marketing plan to drive initiatives forward.

Steve said the grant was great news for both WS&L and the households it serves in the South-West, some of whom may not be aware of the credit union’s offerings.

“We are now able to make welcome system upgrades and introduce new, ethical financial products at a time when reaching communities across our common bond area matters more than ever,” he said. “With costs rising for many households, I’m thrilled that we’ve been given this opportunity to offer more people our ethical, affordable financial services. For many, these represent a crucial alternative to borrowing from illegal and high-interest lenders. A huge thank you to Fair4All Finance for this grant which is set to be a real game changer in our efforts to improve financial inclusion in the South-West.”