A STALWART at an Oxford credit union has praised the role they play in helping out the city’s needy.

Despite being a medical photo- grapher by profession, Geoffrey Richardson spent more than 13 years working as a clerk at the Blackbird Leys Credit Union.

And the 80-year-old who lives in Watlington Road has now retired from his voluntary position.

The grandfather said: “It has been very demanding, of course, and it has meant gradually giving up more of my time because the demand has become greater.

“Initially I learnt slowly. After the banks collapsed there wasn’t the money for part-time staff so the number of people in the credit union has dwindled.

“Nobody is investing in the area and when there is high unemployment, demand for the help of the credit union increases.

“It is a great asset to Blackbird Leys and to the area to have this credit union.”

The Blackbird Leys Credit Union was set up more than 20 years ago so people on the estate could save money and obtain loans without going to loan sharks.

Mr Richardson, a grandfather of two, said: “In the beginning we started in a church annexe with one little table and as we have expanded we now have computers, safes and all sorts of things.

“When the banks collapsed there was quite a pressure to understand how we could help the people in the area. For many people it has been a painful experience.

“For people living on benefits the credit union is a necessity because they depend upon getting their money. People who are hooked on to loan sharks come to us for help.”

Mr Richardson worked as a medical photographer at the John Radcliffe Hospital after moving from Birmingham in the 1980s.

The father of two began volunteering at the credit union in 2001 after a friend suggested he get involved.

He handed over the keys on his 80th birthday on Thursday during a celebration in the Blackbird Leys Community Centre.

Saul Goode, the manager of the credit union at Blackbird Leys, said: “Geoffrey has been a stalwart at the credit union.”

AN ALTERNATIVE TO LOAN SHARKS

Credit unions are financial cooperatives which are owned by their members and operated to provide credit at a competitive rate.

The Blackbird Leys Credit Union has around 600 members and has been going since 1994.
It is based at the Blackbird Leys Community Centre.
In 2010 the cooperative was hit by Government cuts when it was forced to shut its doors to new borrowers for several months.
It meant the credit union had to lay off part time staff who would have processed applications.