eZine_September_2012

friendscene

Around Britain

September 2012 Issue 21 www.oddfellows.co.uk Not already a member? Visit www.oddfellows.co.uk to join now!

Also featured this monthFood & drink: Meet Herman, the German Friendship cake. Look inside for adelicious recipe to share and enjoy with your friends.

Health & wellbeing: Phil Hadfield from our Care Department explains whatproposed funding changes to the care system in England and Wales couldmean for you.

Home & garden: Our resident gardener George Hill is on hand to solveyour gardening problems.

Sport & Leisure: Members across the UK share their favourite Olympicmemories from the summer of sport.

Money: Millions now use credit unions, but what do they really offer? John Rose from the Manchester Unity Credit Union explains what’s on offer.

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Win!

Culture club

Friendship month 2012

As the Oddfellows Society celebrates itssecond annual Friendship Month, wediscover what friendship really means toour members, through stories, poemsand pictures.

Friendship Month1 - 30 September

A stay at ‘Britain’s friendliestbed & breakfast’

Also win: A dazzling pair ofgardening gloves! Send George aquestion for your chance to win.

£50 of Jessops vouchers in ourthrough the lens photo competition! Send us your best photo inspired bythis month’s theme: ‘Friendship’.

(See inside for more details)

A display with a differenceMembers in Skipton launched their Culture Club last month with a VIP trip to anart gallery in a cattle mart. It’s all part of the plan to keep their famous ThreeLinks Club right where it belongs; at the heart of the community.

Two-time Paralympic gold medallist Nigel Murray is celebrating after winningbronze in the Team BC1/2 Boccia in front of thousands at the London 2012Games. The GB team captain and Oddfellows member held his nerve on 4September to beat Portugal 7-5 and secure a worthy third-place finish duringhis homecoming Games.

Nigel’s fantastic finale

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“I love going to the theatre once in a while, so

when I heard my local Oddfellows Branch was

arranging a trip I couldn’t pass it up.”

Sharon - Manchester

Culture club

Not already a member? Click here to join now!

Skipton’s Culture Club celebrated its inaugural event lastmonth by giving its members exclusive access to an artevent with a difference.

‘Art in the Pen’ is an exhibition of modern, contemporary artheld inside a working cattle mart.

The Mart Theatre, as it is known when the animals havevacated their pens, hosts theatre groups, exhibitions andmusic concerts throughout the year.

On the weekend of 18 and 19 August, the building’s usualbovine residents were replaced by artists, students andemerging talents who displayed their best work for nearly6,000 art enthusiasts.

However, members of the Culture Club – a new social grouplaunched by the Skipton Branch of the Oddfellows – had thechance to enjoy the exhibits before anyone else at an invite-only wine reception held on the Friday night.

As Jean Philip, Chairman of the local Oddfellows Branch andCulture Club member, explains, visitors were impressed, andsurprised, by what they found inside the unusual venue.

“This was the first Culture Club event I’d been to and what apleasant surprise it was.

“There was something for everyone, from cushions andjewellery to pottery, paintings and photos.

“None of us really expected to be looking at fantastic piecesof art in a place where animals are usually kept. It was arefreshing contrast.”

‘Art in the Pen’ is one of many events in the Culture Club’scalendar, including themed music nights, a monthly supperclub and a Christmas trip to Chatsworth House.

Jean thinks she knows why the Culture Club is provingsuch a success. “I think people have more spare timenowadays, and they don’t have the same outlook onretirement as their parents did.

“They’ve got more energy, more time to develop theirinterests and more desire to enjoy themselves. For the firsttime in their lives they’ve got the opportunity to do whatthey want, when they want, and they’ve going to take fulladvantage.”

Oddfellows Branches in Skipton and Stockport haverecently launched Culture Clubs, with more set to followacross the UK. Free to join and open to anyone, the groupsarrange discounted trips and behind the scenesexperiences for people interested in theatre, arts, books,music and more.

Cattle class

Culture club

Through the lens – photography competitionContinuing the theme of last month’s photography competition, ‘Friendship’, we’dlike you to send us photos that show what friendship means to you. Your photos willbe posted on our Facebook page this month for people around the world to enjoy.

You can enter by emailing your photo to [email protected], posting it on ourFacebook wall or sending it in a tweet that mentions @OddfellowsUK. Click on the linksbelow to visit our social media sites.

Terms and conditions1) Entries can be submitted at any time and still be included in this competition. However the cut off date for each edition will be the first day of the month. For example, this month’s competition closes on 1 October.

2) If successful, you will be contacted by the Oddfellows to arrange delivery of your prize.

3) If your photograph contains an image of a person, building or private location please ensure you get permission from the person/building owner before submitting your entry.

4) By submitting a photograph to this competition you are confirming that you have given permission to use and reproduce this image and that the Oddfellows can use this photo in future publications and marketing material, both online and printed.

5) The Oddfellows will assume your consent has been given once your entry is submitted unless you directly state otherwise.

If we choose your photo to appear in the next edition, you’ll win £50 ofJessops vouchers to spend in-store. So go and get snapping.

The Reader’s ReviewBook: Toastby Nigel Slater

Very few books keep you hooked from the first page to the last but this isone of them.

Written by the author, broadcaster and self-titled ‘professional amateur’ cookNigel Slater; Toast is a scathing, heart-wrenching account of his ownchildhood as remembered through the memories evoked by food.

The author’s honesty about his early years is eye-opening, eye-watering andat times difficult to read. He interweaves comedy and tragedy with ease totake the reader on a journey through the joy, grief and loneliness heexperienced as a child.

Yet despite his upbringing being a lonely existence, flickers of happinessemerge throughout the chapters, caused almost entirely by cooking, eatingor preparing food for others. Here is a man who has clearly chosen the rightcareer in life.

This is not just a book for foodies, but for anyone who remembers thegrowing pains of their own childhood. By the time you reach the finalchapter, you won’t want the last page to arrive. It’s a must read book that Iwould highly recommended. Robert Tomkinson, Unity Office

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“My favourite thing about the Oddfellows is that all the

events are aimed at foodies like me. We even went on a

tour of an English vineyard recently – I’ll drink to that!”

George - Brighton

Herman the German friendship cake

Sport & leisure

Ingredients (makes four starter mixtures)150g of plain flour225g of caster sugar3 tsp. of active dry yeast280ml of warm milk60ml of warm water

MethodDissolve the yeast in warm water for 10 minutes beforestirring well. Then add the flour and mix togetherthoroughly.

Next, stir in the warm milk slowly before covering thebowl with a clean cloth. Leave it in a cool, dry place for 24hours before starting the 10 day cycle.

The 10 day cycleDay 1: Put your mixture in a large mixing bowl and

cover loosely with a clothDay 2: Stir wellDay 3: Stir wellDay 4: Add 1 cup of plain flour, sugar and milk

Stir well and then leaveDay 5: Stir wellDay 6: Stir wellDay 7: Stir wellDay 8: Stir wellDay 9: Repeat day 4 then stir well. Divide the mixture

into four equal portions, give three away and keep one for your own cake

Day 10:The mixture is ready for baking

This sourdough cake recipe has been sharedamong friends for generations.

The mixture contains yeast so it needs 10 days toferment before it’s ready to bake. You then dividethe mixture into four equal portions and give threeaway to your friends who can then make their own.

Baking your Herman cake (classic recipe)

MethodMix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Pourthe mixture into a baking tin that’s greased andlined with baking paper. Sprinkle 50g of brownsugar over the top before baking for 45 minutes at170°C.

Check the cake is cooked right through and put itback in the oven if required.

Supplied by Stuart Roberts at www.hermanthegermanfriendshipcake.com

Ingredients225g of sugar300g of plain flour160ml of cooking oil2 eggs2 tsp. of vanilla essence2 cooking apples – cut into chunks200g of raisins2 heaped tsp. of cinnamon2 heaped tsp. of baking powder

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“I’ve promised myself I’ll try new things, and I can do that

thanks to the Oddfellows. My friends never thought I’d try

paragliding, but it was of the best things I’ve ever done!”

Karen - Nottingham

Nigel wins Paralympic bronze

Two-time Paralympic gold medallist Nigel Murray is celebratingafter winning a bronze medal in the BC1/2 Boccia team event atthe London 2012 Games.

After losing to eventual gold medallists Thailand the day before, heand his GB teammates held their nerve during a tight game againstPortugal on 4 September to win 7-5 and secure a worthy third-placefinish. “We knew it was going to be a close game,” said Nigel, “but wemanaged to hold them off and secure the win right at the end.”

This summer’s London homecoming was Nigel’s swansong and the47 year old said that Tuesday’s match had the best atmosphere he’sever experienced. “It was so partisan, it was brilliant. There werethousands of people and the noise they made for us was justincredible. That’s what home advantage is all about.”

His sport, Boccia, is a cross between bowls and boules that datesback to Roman times and there’s both an individual and team event atthe Games. He reached the quarter finals of the individual event too,before being beaten 3-1 by China’s Kai Zhong. Nigel, a member of theLeamington Spa Branch of the Oddfellows, took gold in the individualevent in 2000 in Sydney, followed by gold in the team event in Beijingeight years later.

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Lancelot ‘Mac’ McFayden, pictured with his wife Molly and CouncillorBrotherton, strikes Usain Bolt’s now famous victory pose as a tribute.

Boston members celebrateJamaican Independence

Jamaican born Oddfellows member LancelotMcFayden was chosen to hand over theJamaican flag to the Mayor of Boston at aceremony marking the official 50thanniversary of Jamaican independence.

Known as Mac to his friends, he handed overthe flag to Councillor Colin Brotherton on 6 August. It was then raised above the town’sAssembly Rooms.

Before handing it over, Boston and LincolnDistrict member Mac joked that the flag wasactually being raised to mark Usain Bolt’sOlympic achievement.

The flag was provided by the Jamaican HighCommission for the occasion and Mac admittedto being “so proud” at having the honour ofrepresenting his country in the town.Derek Green, Boston and Lincoln District.

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“These days we take ‘staycations’ in the UK to

keep costs down. But wherever we go there are

always Oddfellows events to entertain us.”

Lesley - South Yorkshire

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Members from Nottingham on their Friendship Walk last year

Friendship is at the heart of what being an Oddfellows member is all about. That’s why, every September, the Societyholds a month-long series of friendship themed events and celebrations.

A growing body of research has found that people with more good friends are likely to be healthier and live for longer thanthose without. Some studies have even shown loneliness to be a greater risk to our general health than smoking. Last year’sinaugural Friendship Month saw more than 1,000 members attend 80 events nationwide, and this year’s looks set to be evenmore fun. Here we explore what friendship really means to our members today.

Friendship Month 2012

An important friendshipOlwen Bellis, from Deeside Branch met her lifelong friendMargaret Fisher 37 years ago while living in Saudi Arabia.

They’ve kept in touch ever since and they even joined theOddfellows together.

“Margaret and I became very close friends. We never losttouch and once we were all back living in the UK weremained close friends.

Then, in 2001, she asked me to go on a trip to Manchesterthat was organised by the Oddfellows. I knew nothing aboutthem but decided to accept the invitation.

After a tour of the Society’s head office, she asked mejoin...and I’ve now been a member of Deeside Lodge formore than 10 years.

I cannot praise the Society highly enough for the pleasure ithas given me, and Margaret has been a very good friend tome. So I would like to say a big thank you to her.”

Nothing beats face to face contact with your friends, but whenthat isn’t possible you can use our social media sites to keepin touch with friends and members around the world. Click onthe icons below to find out more.

Read their full stories throughout the month atwww.oddfellows.co.uk/news.

For a full list of Friendship Month events, click here.

Sowing the seeds of friendship

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Friendship is Like...by Nicola O’Riordan FinleyDistrict Secretary - Stepney & South Essex and former Chairman

Friendship is like an evolving plant and flowerIt starts off as a shoot that grows by the hourAs you get to know the person standing by your sideThe stems of the friendship grow broad and wideThey wind and bend, then cling to your heartLaying down roots, for a healthy startBuds of a relationship start to form and thriveThe leaves come and the friendship’s aliveThen as the plant starts to grow and matureIt’s like our friendship’s strong and pure.

The sun shines, its summer then next its fallFriendship like the plant grows strong and tallTime helps the flowers blossom in the sunRelationships develop when you are having fun,Being with someone who has a similar point of viewIs like the blossom and brings a more colourful hueInto the foundation of your being and soulWhile life’s burdens try to take their tollJust like the annuals, perennials and evergreensOur friendships have diversity that can be seenWhether it’s a relative, best friend or soul mateThey can last forever and that’s what makes them great.

Friendship poems

Date Event District

11 Cleveland & Durham

15 Wine tasting evening with supper Skipton

18 Picnic in the park Erewash Valley

20 Coffee morning Heart of Norfolk

23 Anniversary walk, tea and cakes Beds and Bucks

28 Evening dinner cruise South Yorkshire & North Derbyshire

30 Ghost walk around Shrewsbury Border Counties

September events worth getting together for

‘The Oddfellows' by Pam Ayres

It’s nice to be an Oddfellow, and we’re not odd at all.The benefits are many, and the outlay very small.We do our bit for charity, and help out those in needAnd as for our social life, we like it very full indeed!

But when life’s not so sunny, but confusing like a mazeThe Oddfellows support me in a hundred different ways.It’s very reassuring, though I may be on my ownThat someone will advise me if I just pick up the phone.

And when misfortune finds me, when the skies are looking stormyI’ll have someone to turn to – to fight my corner for me.To join the Oddfellows, one of the newest, oldest trendsIs to feel a little safer, in the company of friends.

To celebrate Friendship Month, we’re giving you the chance to win a fantasticholiday for two to Pickering in the North Yorkshire Moors.

This prize includes two night’s accommodation for you and a friend at Rain’sFarm Holiday Cottages. With full English breakfasts provided each morning,you will be fuelled up and ready to explore the beauty of the Moors.

You can also visit Scarborough, Whitby and Flanborough Head which are alljust a short drive away.

Lorraine Allanson, owner of Rain’s Farm, won the national accolade of Britain’sFriendliest B&B in this year’s AA Bed and Breakfast Awards, beating 3,000 otherentrants in the process.

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Win a two nights away for two at Britain’s friendliest B&B worth £168!

Friendship Month1 - 30 September

Competition terms and conditions1) Please ensure you get the permission of the person you are nominating

to subscribe to Friendscene before you submit their details. Only once we have received confirmation of their willingness to subscribe will you both be entered into the prize draw.

2) Only one entry allowed per applicant (aged 18 or over).

3) The deadline for entries is before Monday 1 October – any entries received after this time will not be counted.

4) The winning entries will be chosen at random from all entries and notified within three weeks.

5) This prize cannot be exchanged for another option.

6) The Oddfellows reserves the right to change the details of this competition without prior notice. The prize may be subject to change, up to the value indicated above. For further details please contact [email protected].

To enter, simply sign someone up to the Friendscene magazine. [email protected] with the email address of your friend or familymember before Monday 1 October and you’ll both be entered into thisamazing draw. Good luck!

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“I love the Oddfellows’ Active Travel Club. My friends and I

go on active and culture trips, weekends away and holidays

abroad. It lets me meet new people, and it was free to join!”

Roger, London

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Active Travel

Sport & leisure

Join us for a relaxing and picturesque trip to Lake Como,one of Italy’s most popular holiday destinations.

This fantastic foreign holiday includes return flights from EastMidlands to Bergamo, transfers to and from Lake Como andfour nights all-inclusive accommodation in the three-starBritannia Excelsior Hotel in Cadanabbia.

Cost: £369pp (exclusive price to Active Travel Club members)Single supplement: £10pp per night

Deposit: £100 to be paid by 1 November 2012

Join us for our Turkey and Tinsel holiday at AlvastonHall, an elegant Victorian half-timbered house set in 41acres of beautiful Cheshire countryside.

The four night break will include carols and all thedecorations and trimmings you’d expect. Together with aChristmas dinner, shows, games and even a New Year’sEve Party!

Cost: £182pp (based on two sharing(exclusive price to Active Travel Club members)Supplements available upon request

All-inclusive holiday to Lake Como (Italy) Wednesday 24 April 2013 (4 nights, 5 days)

Turkey & Tinsel Holiday 2012Warner Alvaston Hall Hotel, NantwichMonday 10 - Friday 14 December 2012

The Active Travel Club gives members the chance to meet each other on a variety of trips abroad, special days out andUK holidays. There are now more than 400 members who have joined and this number is growing all the time. Membersof the club are always first to receive the latest information on forthcoming holidays, activities and special offers, andthey receive regular updates about planned trips as well. The Club offers members the chance to take part in uniqueholiday opportunities and experiences such as activity holidays, weekends away and cultural breaks.

Exclusive offers for Active Travel Club members

Optional excursionsTrip to Lake Lugano in Switzerland and Lake Maggoire in Italy (full day) – £35Lake cruise and wine tasting (half day) – £28

These offers are only available to Oddfellows members. To find out more about becoming a member click here Forexisting members to find out more about the Active Travel Club please email [email protected] or call 0161 832 9361.

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“Sorting out the garden is how I like to relax.

An expert gave a talk at my local Oddfellows

branch – it helped me no end.”

Christine - Derbyshire Not already a member? Click here to join now!

Q: “How can I add some last-minutecolour to my garden?”Catherine, Derbyshire

A: I would plant some autumn-flowering primroses, polyanthus, violasand pansies for a wealth of deepautumnal colour. You could also plantsome Michaelmas daises in yourgarden next spring too, for some goodcolour next September.

Q: “Which vegetables should I beplanting in September?”Dennis, Yorkshire

A: Plant Japanese Onion sets now toget an early crop next April, as well asspring cabbage, purple sproutingbroccoli and kale.

Q: “September’s a busy month for meand my free time will be limited. Whichimportant jobs should I do first?”Andrew, Oxford

A: Your climbing and rambling roses willneed pruning now. Cut them back in thetraditional way, removing two thirds ofthe new growth. This causes lateralgrowth to occur, which produces beautiful early roses nextspring. Prune your stoned fruit trees now before the frost candamage them where you make the cuts. Keep the groundaround your celery well fed with liquid manure and lift yourbeetroot as well.

Q: “Is it easy to save the seeds frommy flower garden?”Martin, Nottingham

A: It’s very easy; just wait for a dry spell.Store them in paper bags rather thanpolythene ones as this helps the seedsto ripen better and doesn’t causecondensation. You can save all mannerof seeds, from poppies and marigolds to petunias andlobelias.

Is your garden giving you grief? Well, fear not, because George Hill is here to solve your gardening problems. Sendyour question to George by emailing [email protected]. If we publish your question we’ll send you a brand newpair of dazzling gardening gloves absolutely free, thanks to Joe’s Garden.

Ask George

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Members with green fingersOddfellows members are eligible to receive aspecial 10% discount on anything atwww.suttons.co.uk, from seeds and bulbs togardening equipment and greenhouses. To takeadvantage of this exclusive offer, click here*.

*You will need to be signed in as a member to access theMembers' Benefits page.

Remember! If we publish your question we’ll sendyou a brand new pair of dazzling gardening glovesabsolutely free, thanks to Joe’s Garden.

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“I’ve never really been ‘sporty’, but I try to keep fit. My local

Oddfellows branch now hosts a walking club. It’s great to get

some fresh air, and we always have a good time.”

Diana - Essex

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Ben Cook from Peterborough and Spalding District (picturedfar right, below) worked as a Games Maker at the OlympicBeach Volleyball tournament at Horse Guards Parade.

Neil Baddeley and his wife Diana from Deeside District werein the Olympic Stadium to see their son Andrew reach thesemi-final of the men’s 1,500 metres.

“The Olympic Park was brilliant,” said Neil, “we will lookback and pinch ourselves to think we were there.”

Sport & leisure

Gold medal memories

This summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games have created thousands of lasting memories; from Mo Farah’s andJessica Ennis’ success in the Olympic Stadium to Bradley Wiggins and Laura Trott triumphing on two wheels.

Here Oddfellows members across the country share their sporting memories...

(Continued on the next page...)

Reg Wells, from Stepney & South Essex District, waschosen to be an Essex Ambassador during theGames. His duties over the two weeks includedstewarding at the Lea Valley White Water Centre andmeeting and greeting athletes and spectators atSouthend Airport.

“Each time we won gold and our athlete was on thatpodium while our national anthem was playing, I hadtears in my eyes.”Derek Green, Boston and Lincoln District

“Every time I turned on the TV the image showedthousands of people having a brilliant time. This happymemory will stay with me for a long time.”Bill Davis, Pride of Bermondsey Lodge.

Sport & leisure

“My favourite memory is of the Opening Ceremony.The whole thing made me proud to be British.”Iris Barrell, Ipswich District

And last but not least, we’d like to give a mention to all ofour ‘Olympian’ members whose daily actions of bravery andgenerosity deserve a medal. Thanks to John Knowles forsharing his story (St Helens and Warrington District).

Members in Norristhorpe in Yorkshire hosted an afternoonof Olympic events. Jill Brodie and her mother Vera Stanleygot dressed up for the occasion and were ready for thepaper plane javelin event and many more.(pictured opposite)

“I was selected as a Games Maker at Greenwich Parkfor the Equestrian events. My lasting memory will be thecrowds of happy, smiling people waving their flags.”Linda Bristow, Loyal Flower of Kent Lodge (pictured above)

Congratulations!Well done to Jill Booth for winning a trip for two to Chatsworth House, in the heart ofDerbyshire’s picturesque Peak District. Thanks to everyone else who entered; keepreading Friendscene every month for more chances to win other prizes!

Gill Brody and Vera StanleyThe Olympic Beach Volleyball tournament at Horse Guards Parade

Clearing up the care system

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Health & wellbeing“The Oddfellows give so much. I wish more people

knew about the great services they have to offer.”

Paul - London

Not already a member? Click here to join now!

The UK Government recently published a progress reporton proposed changes to the way the Nation’s care costsshould be funded in the future. Phil Hadfield, CareManager at the Oddfellows’ Head Office, explains whatthe report’s findings could mean for you.

The Commission of Funding and Care Support is anindependent body set up in 2010 to review the way theEnglish and Welsh care system is funded.

When the Commission published the Dilnot Report a yearlater, it called for an end to the potentially unlimited costsfaced by people in need of residential care.

Speaking at the time, the report’s author and Chair of theCommission, Andrew Dilnot described the system as“broken”. However he sees grounds for optimism,highlighting how society has managed to adapt to rising lifeexpectancies before in the past.

The main reform he suggests is the introduction of a cap onthe amount that older people have to pay for care over theirlifetimes; limited to between £25,000 and £50,000.

People with assets would still be responsible for paying theirown care, but that cost would no longer be unlimited.It also proposes increasing the means test level for fundingapplications from £23,250 to £100,000, and providing freelong-term care to anyone who needs it before the age of 40.

In a progress report released this July, the Government saidthat it agreed with the report’s suggestions, but would onlyagree to implement them if they can realistically be financed.A final decision is expected to be announced in the nextspending review, due in late 2013.

Visit www.dilnotcommission.dh.gov.uk for more information.

The Care Department at the Oddfellows can advise you ona wide range of issues and help with a range of exclusivemember benefits. Call 0845 6063102 or [email protected] to find out more.

Andrew Dilnot

We should be delighted that we are

able to live longer, but at the moment

people are frightened because of the

risk of long-term care costs.

““Andrew Dilnot

Care facts*• 80% of over 65 year olds will need care during their lives• Five million people in the UK are currently acting as

carers• By 2030, the number of people aged over 85 will have

doubled• Around 40,000 people a year have to sell their homes

to pay for care*Source: The Office for National Statistics

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“When I had money worries the Oddfellows put

me in touch with the right people who could

help. They were with me every step of the way.”

Pam - Cambridgeshire

Money

Not already a member? Click here to join now!

Figures released by the Financial Services Authorityrecently revealed that credit unions are now used bymore than one million Brits.

The Government recently invested £38bn (source -Department for work and Pensions website 27/06/12www.dwp.gov.uk) in this growing community-led industry,but what are credit unions; and why are they now morepopular than ever?

John Rose from the Manchester Unity Credit Union answersour quick-fire questions...

What makes a credit union different from a normal bank?Unlike traditional banks that answer to shareholders, creditunions are run by the people who use them. They operateethically for the communities they serve, instead of just forprofit.

Why do you think they’re growing in popularity?Many people are falling out of love with the more traditionalforms of saving and borrowing. In fact, the number of peopleusing credit unions has tripled in the last 10 years. (source -Association of British Credit Unions Limited, (ABCUL)www.abcul.org)

Some credit unions have appealed to wealthier savers todeposit money and help less well-off people get access tocredit responsibly.

Unlike payday loans, which often come with huge interestrepayments, credit unions help their members to save moreand only borrow what they can afford to repay.

*What services are available?Manchester Unity Credit Union members can save up to£10,000, starting from just £5 a month. They can also applyfor a first loan of up to five times the amount they have saved(subject to status), after saving for a minimum of six months.Once that’s repaid, the second loan can be up to ten timesthe amount (maximum £7,500) and all loans are low-interestwith a maximum Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of 12.7%.There’s no penalty for repaying early, and your loan will beinsured free of charge.

*Key Facts Terms and conditions apply – Call theManchester Unity Credit Union on 0161 233 2569 for detailsor for more information visit www.manchesterunitycu.co.uk.

Manchester Unity Credit Union Ltd is authorised andregulated by the Financial Services Authority (FRN 213401),the FSCS and FOS. Registered office: The Oddfellows,Abbey House, 32 Booth Street, Manchester, M2 4QP.

Protecting money for the millions

Sport & leisure

The number of people using credit

unions has tripled in the last 10 years.

“

“Credit union stats (Source - Association of British CreditUnions Ltd - www.abcul.org - 31 March 2012) • 405 credit unions in the UK• They look after £762m of savings and loan out £604m to members

• 196 million credit union members worldwide