University of the West of Scotland (UWS) won the Best Partnership Award for their work with Renfrewshire-Wide Credit Union at the recent Student Money Advice Awards 2016

Renfrewshire-Wide Credit Union and UWS funding team have been working hard over the past year to raise awareness of the benefits of joining a credit union along with introducing the concept of credit unions as community-based organisations to students.

 The Awards, which are run by the National Association of Student Money Advisers (NASMA), took place at St. John’s Hotel, Solihull on 28 June 2016. This Best Partnership Award recognises the work the University’s Student Services Funding & Advice Team undertook with local credit unions, specifically Renfrewshire-Wide Credit Union.

RWCU’S Marketing Officer, Paula Ferrier, said: “We are delighted that UWS has won this award; Kellie and the funding team are so committed and forward thinking with their students. They address every aspect of their students’ financial wellbeing: both the students’ immediate needs and their longer term needs. This holistic approach fits in with the philosophy of the credit union movement – people helping people. It is great to see a university like UWS acknowledge the great work that credit unions do. Our aim at Renfrewshire-Wide Credit Union has always been to promote ethical, affordable financial choices and provide our members with a community-based alternative to the poor deals offered elsewhere.”

Kellie McAlonan, UWS Student Funding Team Leader, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have received this recognition from our peers and look forward to continuing to deliver projects that support the development and experience of our students during their time at UWS.”