EDWARD FILENE CREDIT UNION AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE - GB & IRELAND
INTERNATIONAL EDWARD FILENE CREDIT UNION AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP
JOE BIDEN AWARDS FOR DEVELOPMENT EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
FROM AFRICA, ASIA, AUSTRALASIA, CARIBBEAN, EUROPE & NORTH AMERICA

AWARDS DINNER - SATURDAY, 23rd NOVEMBER 2019
MANCHESTER MARRIOTT VICTORIA & ALBERT HOTEL, WATER ST, MANCHESTER M3 4JQ

The UK’s Credit Union “Oscars” celebratory Dinner held in conjunction with the
Co-operative College’s Centenary Conference, November 26-28 2019

The annual Awards Dinner has always celebrated those who successfully participated in the Filene and Biden Awards programme by showcasing and applauding their efforts and achievements, giving a superb opportunity for those involved in the co-operative credit union movement to meet others from this country and other parts of the world engaged in co-operative activity.

There was an excited buzz at the beautifully decorated Manchester Marriott Victoria and Albert Hotel last Saturday night by those who had gathered to celebrate the ninth annual Credit Union “Oscars”.  The guest list included international guests from Indonesia, the Philippines, Trinidad and Tobago as well as credit unionists from around Great Britain and the island of Ireland - they were there to applaud the achievements of credit unions and credit unionists displaying their success in a wide and diverse range of activities all credit unions can engage in, to outreach to their communities and bring the benefits of credit union membership to all.

In his keynote speech, Lord Maurice Glasman, Patron of the Foundation, told guests: “What you do is key to building a better future,” praising credit unions for promoting mutual aid and building trust.

This year’s awards dinner was held in conjunction with the Co-operative College’s Centenary Conference. Simon Parkinson, outgoing CEO and principal of the College, who said he had learnt about the awards from a Co-op News article and had decided to reach out to the Foundation to work together to promote the two events. He said “We are a single movement" ...... “Leadership and education is not just about technical knowledge and skills, but being community activists and leaders and recognising the difference that our work makes. “The next generation are politically active and knowledgeable. They are not going to go for the status quo. Co-ops and the credit union movement are a natural place for the next generation to make the changes they want to see.” Simon Parkinson called on the movement to support the College on its journey to set up a co-operative university. “It will only work if the movement is ready to invest in the next generation of leaders,” he added.

Co-trustee Barry Epstein added that co-operative values “make economic sense”. He encouraged credit unions in the UK to take the lead on promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.  Extracts from Barry Epstein's full address can be read here

With so many excellent entries in 2019, many from first time entrants, both Judging Panels had a challenging time and even though working and scoring independently of each other, you’ll see from the list below there was stiff competition between two credit unions in particular, as well as scores that gave rise to joint winners and those who achieved Runners Up and Highly Commended biting at their heels.  The Filene trophies were presented by Simon Parkinson and two of the Awards sponsors, Neil Cartwright of Unity Trust Bank and Paul Oliver of Caroma Systems Ltd, while the Joe Biden Award recipients accepted their trophies from Noel Raboy, President of the CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Co-operative, a life and non-life insurance co-operative based in the Philippines.  

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
This Award is rarely given, having only been given once before in the entire nine year history of the Awards.  This year, it’s awarded by the Trustees on behalf of the Foundation to the people who founded an organisation and have given unstinting efforts, unrewarded service to our movement, never having sought accolades and yet whose untiring work has done much to bring unity to our movement, particularly in Great Britain - the three Founders/Chroniclers of the BCUHS

BRITISH CREDIT UNION HISTORICAL SOCIETY - JAMES CLANCY, FRANK DUFFY AND MARTIN LOGAN
 

JOE BIDEN AWARDS FOR DEVELOPMENT EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR FROM ASIA AND THE CARIBBEAN 

From Asia

Winner: Gadwin Handumon, Paglaum Multipurpose Cooperative, Philippines
Runner Up: Patrick John Rico, ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative, Philippines
Highly Commended: Valentinus, Credit Union Keling Kumang, Indonesia
Commended: Dr Munaldus, Credit Union Keling Kumang, Indonesia

From the Caribbean

Winner: David Marquez, Credit Union Co-operative Society Limited, Trinidad & Tobago

INTERNATIONAL EDWARD FILENE CREDIT UNION AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP

A long term benefactor to a credit union

Winner: Gadwin Handumon, Paglaum Multipurpose Cooperative, Philippines
Runner up: Dr Munaldus, Credit Union Keling Kumang, Indonesia

Young Credit Union Leader aged 17-35

Winner: Patrick John Rico, ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative, Philippines

EDWARD FILENE CREDIT UNION AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE - GB & IRELAND (in alphabetical order)

Jimmy Blair - Haghill & Dennistoun Credit Union Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland
Winner: Single Benefactor or Donor to a Credit Union

Cardiff & Vale Credit Union Ltd, Cardiff, Wales
Winner: Engaging in direct credit union advocacy with local/national politicians

Coalisland Credit Union Ltd, Dungannon BT71 4LN
Close runner up for the Edward Filene Supreme Award for Social Entrepreneurship (sponsor Caroma Systems Ltd)
                     (awarded for the highest total of scores achieved over all categories entered)
Joint Winner: Young Credit Union Leader aged 17 to 35 years - Sarah Kelly (sponsor Optimus Cards Group)
Winner: Hosting Young Savers and Young Adults Schemes in places of education and the workplace
Winner: Serving as a financial incubator for seed, small and medium sized businesses operated by owner-members - sponsor Unity Trust Bank plc
Winner: Setting up 'pop up' credit union services – outreaching the credit union to new consumers
Winner: Engaging in Community Mobilisation and Outreach
Winner: The Millennial Award - encouraging involvement of this age group in all aspects of credit unions
Winner: Raising funds for good causes (other than the credit union)
Joint Winner: The United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals
Runner Up: President/Board Chairperson/Chief Executive Officer/General Manager of a Credit Union – Brian O’Neill
Runner up: Pursuing International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) Principle 6 'Co-operation amongst Co-operatives
Runner up: The Minerva Award - empowerment of girls and women
Runner up: Achieving Business Growth applying internal innovatory methods, mobilising external support from the private sector
Highly Commended: Engaging in direct credit union advocacy with local/national politicians

Community 1st Credit Union Ltd, Mexborough, Yorks
Winner of the Edward Filene Supreme Award for Social Entrepreneurship (sponsor Caroma Systems Ltd)
                  (awarded for the highest total of scores achieved over all categories entered)
Winner: President, Board Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer or General Manager of a Credit Union - Gary Simpson
Winner: 'Front Office' Customer Services Officer - Julie Moss, DEEU
Winner: 'Back Office' management/staff member - Jan Clark
Joint Winner: Young Credit Union Leader aged 17 to 35 years - Beth Moss (sponsor Optimus Cards Group)
Winner: Achieving Business Growth applying internal innovatory methods, mobilising external support from the private sector
Winner: Demonstrating achievement of Prudential Standards
Runner up: A Single Benefactor or Donor to a Credit Union - Miles Crompton
Runner up - Serving as a financial incubator for seed, small and medium sized businesses operated by owner- members (sponsor Unity Trust Bank plc)
Runner up: The Millennial Award - encouraging involvement of this age group in all aspects of credit unions
Runner up: The United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals
Runner up: Use of the media
Runner up: Engaging in direct credit union advocacy with local/national politicians
Runner up: Hosting Young Savers and Young Adults Schemes in places of education and the workplace
Highly commended: The Minerva Award - empowerment of girls and women
Highly Commended: Engaging in Community Mobilisation and Outreach

Credit Unions of Wales
Winner: Pursuing International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) Principle 6 'Co-operation amongst Co-operatives (sponsor Social Enterprise Link)

Dragonsavers Credit Union Ltd, Treorchy, Wales
Joint Winner: The United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals
Runner up: Raising funds for good causes (other than the credit union)

Dundalk Credit Union Ltd, Co. Louth, Ireland
Highly Commended: Engaging in Community Mobilisation and Outreach

East Sussex Credit Union Ltd, Hove, East Sussex
Highly commended - Supreme Award for Social Entrepreneurship (sponsor Caroma Systems Ltd)
               (awarded for the highest total of scores achieved over all categories entered)
Runner up:  'Back Office' management/staff member - Sam Busuttil
Runner up: ‘Front Office’ Customer Services Officer - Mario Falbo
Runner up: Young Credit Union Leader aged 17 to 35 years Leah Georgiades (sponsor Optimus Cards Group)
Runner up - Engaging in Community Mobilisation and Outreach
Highly commended - Achieving Business Growth applying internal innovatory methods, mobilising external support from the private sector
Highly commended - Use of the media

Fenella Hardie - Holdfast Credit Union Ltd, Witham, Essex
Highly Commended: President, Board Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer or General Manager of a Credit Union

Beth Walsh - Pioneer Mutual Credit Union Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland
Winner: The Minerva Award for the empowerment of girls and women

Westport Credit Union Ltd, Co. Mayo, Ireland
Winner: Use of the media  
Winner: Film Production Award