Ken Mathers is a Member of The Vale of Leven Credit Union. He shares a few thoughts on the subject. 'You, my neighbours trust me to pay it back .... It is on its way!             Home

I have been a Member of The Vale of Leven Credit Union for three and a half years now. I had always believed in the concept of Credit Unions as a means of enabling people within communities. I am on Benefits and have to be ultra careful with what money I have. For a long time I had been using my back pocket as a bank, and always in need as I have been involved in a long-term music project. I would do without, scrape and skimp for months to put a sum together only to find it disappear when a un-sought for bill came in. Anyway, I bit the bullet and joined the VOLCU. Right away, I realised that the pressure was off of me, and all I had to do was to keep paying a sum in each week. Eventually, I got my first loan, paid it back pronto, then did the same on each successive loan. By this time my shares have steadily increased and the equipment that I needed were being put in place without any major strain. Life brings its wee emergencies. Out of the blue I was suddenly offered another house and needed things for it. The VOLCU came to my rescue. Later, a friend offered me an item, which was a bargain, and I hadn't the cash - the VOLCU helped me out again. In this area, I consider that The Vale of Leven Credit Union and The Home from Home Furniture Recycling Project are two very worthy organisations, which do a lot for, people directly, and should be supported. I consider that making payments every week to the VOLCU is much more of an honour thing than an obligation. The money that I borrow from time to time is your money. You, my neighbours, trust me to pay it back - it's on its way!

Has a current Catalogue of 32 Music CD's which includes 12 Albums. He wrote 'Bannockburn' - a Musical two years ago 'Painted People' is his major musical work, which all together runs on for about six hours non-stop. Recently mothballed a self-imposed computer project on Linux and Unix, which is now in recovery. Designs WebSites for People, Charities and Organisations when he's no well.