Advice Centre and Credit Union for Largs in community shop

The Largs Community Development Trust are applying to the North Coast Locality Partnership of North Ayrshire Council for funding to support a three year project at the former home of Citizens Advice in Boyd Street.

It will also help with filling forms and applying for things like attendance allowance, pension credit and housing benefit.

Cllr Alan Hill, who is an advisor to the Trust, said: “This is a really exciting project and as a development trust we are keen to establish a base in the area but also to be able to restart the offer of advice and information being available to people in their own community once again.

"We have really missed the Citizens Advice office in the Largs area and this will go some way to recreating this once again. It will also be a place where people can come to get help in completing forms either on paper or online.

"With the announcement of the removal of the Winter Fuel Allowance, for example, certain benefits like pension credit have become even more important as they provide a gateway to other help and assistance.

"We will use the office as base from which to run an income maximisation campaign to ensure that our local residents are claiming everything they are entitled to.

"I am proud that our own local development trust is spearheading this initiative in Largs.”

The Trust has also been in talks with a local credit union, who have agreed to open up within the new office one or two days per week providing people with the ability to open savings accounts and obtain loans through a community-owned bank.

Heather Meldrum and Cllr Alan Hill (Image: Newsquest)

Local activist Heather Meldrum, who is also a member of the Trust, added, “In my working life I was involved with the Credit Union movement, and I am delighted at the prospect of bringing this to people in our town.

"We have had very successful discussions with ScotWest Credit Union who are one of the largest in the country and offer people the opportunity to save within a cooperative community owned bank, but which has all the protections that are available to customers of large High Street Banks.

"At our meeting with the Credit Union we discussed future aims like opening accounts for local young people and working alongside the schools to provide youngsters the necessary financial skills to take them forward.

"The Credit Union themselves also have plans for expansion and are even looking at areas like mortgage provision. All of these services are going to become more important for those local people who like to do things in person and not online for example.

"The Credit Union also offers excellent rates of interest and often as good, or better, than the High Street. This allows people to support their local community whilst also securing a good return on their investments.

"I am very much looking forward to getting the office open and ready for the public.”

The grant application will be considered by the locality partnership at its meeting on September 3 and if approved the Trust is ready to hit the ground running.

Cllr Hill added, "We have a draft lease in place and ready to go. We will require to do some fitting out works, painting and signage but would aim to have the office open as soon as possible and probably some time in October.

The working name for the new office will be “The Space”. Other groups will be welcome to make use of The Space for meetings or the provision of advice and assistance.

The Trust are already in talks with Women’s Aid, Dementia Friendly Largs and the town's Foodbank among others.

Cllr Hill added; "We are also hoping to launch, in conjunction with Largs Academy, a new local digital radio station which will be available across the North Coast and allow the school and local people of all ages the ability to record and broadcast programs and podcasts to other local people.

"This could range from music to current affairs to performances and the arts. Watch The Space for more details.”