We at Hoot Credit Union have taken the decision to cease using X as be believe the ever increasing toxic content and lack of moderation of harmful misinformation goes against our co-operative values.
In recent years, the digital world has changed in ways that have deeply impacted how we, as an organisation, interact with our audiences. We believe that X is no longer the best platform to communicate with our members and community partners.
X used to be a lively platform where communities could connect, share their stories, and push for positive change. It’s become a much more hostile environment in recent years. Hate speech, harassment, general toxic content make it an uncomfortable space for us, and we think for many of our members.
We will not delete our account in the hope that at some point, the platform will once again become a space for positive communication and change; but we will no longer post or monitor our account.
You can still interact with us via Meta, Instagram and LinkdIn, and you can keep up to date with what is happening at Hoot via our website www.wisewithmoney.org.uk
On January 19th Hoot will be 20 years old and we aim to celebrate our birthday year in style.
Although credit unions have been around in Bolton and Bury since 1990, Hoot was created (firstly known as Quids In) in 2005 to cover the whole of Bolton, and then Bury, making sure that everyone in the boroughs gained access to affordable credit and savings.
Since then we have achieved so much, becoming what is now a thriving community-owned business.
Since 2005 we have lent out over £20m and estimate to have saved borrowers over £36 in loan interest by coming to Hoot rather than predatory lenders.
Today our members have over £2.3m in savings, and 85% of our savings are saving for the first time.
We now offer online services, instant access to savings, and loans to suit everyone.
Here are some of the things we are going to do to celebrate our birthday year:
Planting the Seeds of Membership – we will be planting a tree for every new member who opens an account and starts saving in 2025 (up to 1,000 trees). Planting trees is our way of living out our ethos as an ethical organisation that truly cares. It’s about more than just numbers – it’s about creating a better, greener world for everyone. Find out more about this at https://wisewithmoney.org.uk/20th-year-anniversary
Member giveaways – Every month in 2025 we will draw a lucky member who will receive a Hoot birthday hamper of goodies worth up to £100. We will make the draw at the end of each month and inform the lucky member of what they have won. Build your savings even more to help the community – Members can now save up to £30,000 in Hoot^. For every £1 you save, you are helping someone else in your community access affordable credit, and improve their financial well-being. What better way to support your community! If you open a Christmas Savings account and save for ten consecutive weeks or three consecutive months up until November 2025, you will be entered into a free draw to win up to £250 savings bonus. Open your Christmas saver today https://wisewithmoney.org.uk/savings/christmas-savings
We are having a party! We aim to hold our birthday party at our Bolton branch on World Co-op Day, Saturday 5 July. Join us for fun activities and goodies, and help us celebrate 20 years of co-operative community-owned financial services. More details later in 2025.
We look forward to sharing our birthday celebrations with you.
Support Your Local Credit Union
*Members who are saving and borrowing. Members in arrears will not qualify ^Savings are not interest bearing and are subject to a dividend or share of the profit depending on credit union performance. Savings are protected by the FSCS.
The Mayor of Bolton showed his support for Hoot Credit Union, winner of the Social Enterprise of the Year at the Bolton Business Awards, by signing up as its latest member.
Joined by the Lady Mayoress Karen Houldsworth, Cllr Morgan signed up as one of 6,000 Hoot members and confirmed his commitment to Hoot’s mission of improving the financial well-being of the community.
Cllr Morgan met with the staff and volunteer directors of the credit union and learned more about how Hoot serves its community as a provider of ethical savings, loans and financial education.
Rob Andrews, Chair of the Board of Directors said “The Board ensures that the credit union is at its best. We believe the CEO and her team do an excellent job to ensure the integrity of the service we provide, and the inclusion of the whole community in benefitting from membership of the credit union”
Chris Canham. CEO added “Social enterprises play a vital role in our local economy and Hoot is proud to be the focus of community finance in Bolton. Thousands of people who live and work in Bolton benefit from our services, and are able to support the most financially challenged in our community by saving and borrowing from their member-owned, community focused social enterprise.”
The Mayor and directors also discussed the positive impact of payroll saving schemes in partnership with employers such as Bolton Council, Bolton at Home and Carr’s Pasties, and how encouraging employers to set up saving with Hoot via payroll is an essential ingredient in their support for employee wellness. Those employees are Bolton residents and by offering value for money services and supporting their well-being, we are fulfilling one of the most important elements of community credit unions
In giving the award, Bolton News said that Hoot won because of the impact it makes on the financial well-being of the community, and the success it has demonstrated in maintaining a community-owned business in a competitive market.
Chris Canham, CEO says “We are delighted to have won this award. We are a small team dedicated to improving financial well-being, and providing affordable loans and savings to everyone. The award has boosted the enthusiasm of our employees to do even more to help the most financially challenged, and also to get the message out that everyone can benefit from our services”
Bus passengers could save up to £240 with a new value product
Option to spread payment over a year at no extra cost through the Credit Union when all buses come under local control in four months
An innovative scheme would provide certainty about fares and help keep travel affordable, supporting people through cost-of-living challenges and giving better access to jobs, skills and opportunities
Other fares are being cut and new ‘hopper’ tickets are to launch when all buses come under local control
The announcement comes as the latest GM residents’ survey shows more than half of respondents’ mental health is negatively impacted by cost-of-living pressure.
With four months to go until all buses in Greater Manchester come under local control, the Mayor of Greater Manchester confirmed today, Thursday, 5th September, plans for a new annual bus pass that will cut the cost of travel.
Available from 5th January – subject to agreement by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority – and costing £800, the Bee Bus Annual pass will be up to £240 (23%) cheaper over a year compared with 28-day tickets.
Recognising inequalities and high levels of deprivation across Greater Manchester (according to national figures, around 1 in 4 (over 700,000) residents live in areas defined as within the 10% most deprived in England), customers will be able to spread payment, at no extra cost, throughout the year with a Credit Union loan – paying £66.67 per month or £15.36 per week compared with £80 or £20 for 28 or seven-day passes respectively.
TfGM is working with all Greater Manchester Credit Unions to open applications from 5th December so that passes are ready to use from 5th January. TfGM is also working with credit unions to offer customers the chance to spread the cost of existing Metrolink products or an annual bus and tram pass starting in March 2025.
Ciara Davies, Executive Lead for the Greater Manchester Consortium of Credit Unions, said:“The Greater Manchester Consortium of Credit Unions is delighted to be involved in this innovative new partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester. Credit Unions are not-for-profit financial co-operatives that have been providing access to affordable financial services in communities and workplaces in GM for over 30 years. This new product will spread the cost of travel and save people money which is just one of the ways in which credit unions can help make your money go further.”
The changes to fares build on steps already taken to bring the cost of travel down, including the launch of the discounted Bee Anybus + Tram ticket in September 2023 – cutting the cost of combined journeys by up to 20%, the introduction of capped bus fares in September 2022 and the continued support for Our Pass, offering free travel to 16–18-year-olds. Metrolink fares have also been frozen since 2020.
We’re thrilled to share some exciting news here at Hoot Credit Union – we’ve just become an accredited Living Wage Employer! What does that mean? Well, it means that every single person working at Hoot is guaranteed to earn at least £12 an hour, which is more than the government’s minimum wage for over 21s, currently set at £11.44 per hour. We are so proud to Pay the Real Living Wage!
Why is this important? In the North West, where we’re based, around 13.5% of jobs pay less than the real Living Wage. That’s about 397,000 jobs where people aren’t earning enough to comfortably meet the cost of living. But at Hoot, we believe in fairness, and we’re committed to making sure that everyone who works with us earns a wage they can actually live on.
The real Living Wage isn’t just any wage – it’s calculated based on what people need to get by. It’s a voluntary rate that employers can choose to pay to ensure their staff are looked after properly. And since 2011, the Living Wage movement has helped over 460,000 people get a well-deserved pay rise, putting £3 billion extra into the pockets of those who need it most.
Proud to Pay the Real Living Wage
Chris Canham, our Chief Executive, couldn’t be prouder. She said, “Our employees are the heart of what we do at Hoot. It’s crucial that we take care of them just as they take care of our community. By paying the real Living Wage, we’re making sure they’re fairly rewarded for all their hard work.”
The Director of the Living Wage Foundation, Katherine Chapman, also shared her thoughts: “We’re delighted that Hoot Credit Union has joined the ranks of over 14,000 responsible employers across the UK who go beyond the government minimum to ensure their staff are paid enough to live on. It’s great to see Hoot leading by example and recognising that a fair day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.”
This is a big step for us at Hoot, and we’re so proud to be part of a movement that’s making a real difference to people’s lives.
If you want to know more about the real Living Wage and the work of the Living Wage Foundation, check out their website.
