Wysemoney which is part of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Credit Union is a non-profit financial co-operative regulated by the Financial Services Authority, meaning that the Credit Union is a safe and ethical investment option.

Break the Piggy Bank Invest WYSELY

Wysemoney investors are benefiting from market-leading returns on their savings and investments with another 3% dividend (interest) recommended for last year. The Credit Union can also accept regular savings and lump sums of up to £10,000 and all accounts are easy access.

Compare this option to the lower returns on deposits with most high street banks and building societies and the fact that any Credit Union profits are returned directly to its members and not third party shareholders, moving your investments and choosing Wysemoney could be the wisest and most beneficial move to make in 2012.

The credit union is already having a significant impact on local people who have been caught in the poverty trap and are at risk of resorting to costly home credit providers or even worse – illegal money lenders and loan sharks.

Stephen Heath, Fylde YMCA Housing and Community Director said: “The reality is that many people need to borrow money at certain times and the Credit Union provides them with an ethical and vital alternative where they previously had nowhere to go. To put it into perspective local people who use doorstep lenders are faced with an APR of over 250% in some cases. It’s just outrageous.

He added: “To ensure we can meet the demand in these difficult times, help people get out of the poverty trap and fight back against illegal money lenders, we need local individuals and businesses to join us and switch on to the greater benefits of placing their investments in a safe financial co-operative such as Wysemoney and Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Credit Union.”

Over the past 3 years, the Credit Union has loaned over £1.5million with the average loan being valued at £845. This has saved borrowers over £1million compared to the main doorstep lender.

Christine is a tenant of a local social landlord, has three children and an elderly father. She has spent the last few years struggling to make ends meet due to the fact that she has had to borrow money and is continually trying to pay back loans with huge interest rates.

She said: “I got a loan with the Credit Union and a while later my washing machine broke so I contacted them again to see about getting another loan. They said to me ‘why do you want a loan when you have enough savings in your account to buy on!’ I was absolutely amazed. I couldn’t believe that I could take out a loan, pay it back and have money at the same time.”

Talk to us at Wysemoney (Face to Face YMCA) on 01253 720270 or visit www.bfwcu.co.uk

Through the Government’s new NCS programme Year 11 students can sign up now to make sure their Summer 2012 will be one to remember and it won’t cost them a penny!

National Citizen Service (NCS) gives all Year 11 school leavers the chance to spend time away from home on a residential at Fylde Coast YMCA’s outdoor activity centre Lakeside YMCA while creating an opportunity to do something positive in their local community.

Taking on a Team Challenge at Lakeside YMCA

The programme runs for three weeks during July and August across Blackpool, Wyre, Fylde and Lancaster, with young people working as part of a team of 16.

Young people taking part will overcome new challenges, build their confidence and learn new skills they will benefit from in the future and which are valued by employers and educational institutions.

Fylde Coast YMCA is very experienced in running programmes for young people and with NCS young people can push themselves while being supported by expert youth leaders.

John Cronin, Chief Executive, Fylde Coast YMCA commented:

“We have been transforming the lives of young people in and around the Fylde Coast for over 80 years and are delighted to have the opportunity to use our experience to deliver the innovative NCS programme enabling young people to make a positive contribution to their communities.

A Fun Summer Ahead

Our programmes will be operating in the Fylde Coast, Blackpool and Lancaster. We believe very strongly in the focus of the NCS and will be encouraging local 16year-olds in the area to take part in the summer of 2012.”

NCS aims to promote a more cohesive, responsible and engaged society by bringing young people from very different backgrounds together to make a difference in their communities.

The NCS team headed by Rachel Reeves have already secured NCS places for young people through local high schools. Is your school one of them?  Sign up for NCS this summer and we bet you’ll have an unforgettable experience.

If you would like to find out more about the NCS Programme and how to sign up then please contact Rachel or Amy at the Fylde Coast YMCA………………

Rachel Reeves – NCS Programme Manager

Amy Lowe – NCS Assistant Programme Manager

Fylde Coast YMCA, Poulton Community YMCA, Parry’s Way, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire FY6 7PU

Email:  ncs@fyldecoastymca.org

Tel:  01253 895115

Text:  07854 096782

Like us:  Fylde Coast YMCA NCS

Find us:  www.fyldecoastymca.org

The programmes are recommended by the Department of Health and thanks to NHS funding every place is completely free of charge for all participants.

Kids Get Active (MEND) programmes are aimed at families with children aged between 7 (from 5 in Blackpool) and 13 years old who may be above their ideal weight.

Kids Get Active MEND participants graduation day!

During the free sessions, the children are encouraged to take part in fun, active and non-competitive games while parents learn about topics including how to set healthy goals and rewards and dealing with fussy eating. It’s also a great opportunity to swap ideas and tips with other parents and children and parents are encouraged to learn about healthy eating and healthy habits together.

With one in three children above a healthy weight, the MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition…Do it!) programme aims to help local families become fitter, healthier and happier.

The free course, which was developed in partnership with child health experts at Great Ormond Street Hospital, also includes a visit to the local supermarket where the children and their parents learn how to read food labels.

Steve Brown, Fylde Coast YMCA MEND’s programme manager for Wyre & Fylde, said:  “We all lead such hectic lives that eating healthily can sometimes drop off the priority list.  At MEND, families learn how they can make small changes to get back on a healthier track.

“Kids love the fun activities and games, while the parents tell us that they enjoy learning about healthy eating and swapping tips with other parents.  As well as losing weight, kids leave the programme with more energy and a boost in self-esteem”.

Christine Waters a local parent who attended the MEND programme with her daughter says: “The staff are outstanding, extremely helpful and supportive. I have learned so much in such a short time. I am disgusted how conned we are into thinking that we are buying the right stuff for our children, only to find that we are actually causing them probably more damage due to low fat and very high sugar foods.”

Independent research conducted by the University College London’s Institute of Child Health found that children who attended the MEND programme experienced long-term health benefits, including long-term weight loss and improvements in fitness and self-esteem.

If you are unsure about whether your child’s weight is above the ideal then call a member of the Y:Active Team on 01253 882105 or visit www.mendcentral.org for an easy to use BMI calculator appropriate for children.

Places are limited so if you think your child is above a healthy weight and would like to find out more about MEND, call Fylde Coast YMCA on 01253 882105 or visit  www.mendcentral.org

Check out all the dates, venues and times for programmes starting this January via www.ymcayactive.org/programmes

With the exciting prospect for Year 11 students across Wyre, Fylde, Blackpool, Lancaster and St Helens to be one of the first to experience a free Summer like no other and to make a real, lasting difference to their local community, the NCS team headed by Rachel Reeves have already secured NCS places for young people through local high schools. Is your school one of them?

New to NCS? Most of us are. It stands for National Citizen Service, but don’t let the name get in the way.

What it really stands for is this:

• free, fun and challenging activities, where Year 11 school leavers get to spend time away from home on a residential at our own Lakeside YMCA and create an opportunity to do something positive in their local community
• the young people get to spend three weeks next summer developing skills they will benefit from in the future. Meeting new people from their local area, trying new experiences.

Can you think of a 16 year old who wouldn’t want an opportunity like this? If you can get the Fylde Coast YMCA NCS team in!

• Challenge yourself
• Make a difference
• Get ahead and learn new skills you can use for your future.

Like Us on Facebook and track the countdown to Summer 2012.

Contact: Rachel Reeves, Amy Lowe or Anya Hawkins on 01253 895115 for more information.

The £40,000 funding boost through Fylde’s Local Strategic Partnership, has enabled the team to purchase a brand new van and trailer which will provide them with the means to serve isolated communities and sheltered housing projects with a mobile fruit and vegetable shop.

FOODCO currently delivers free food parcels to 60+ households a week as well as to 7 community groups. This new cash will allow them to achieve their vision and expand the commercial side of the business including vegetable box schemes for businesses and residents enabling the continuation of the free service to those in need across the borough.

FOODCo New Trailer

Rob Haigh, FOODCO Manager said: “I’d like to thank the LSP for their incredible help and support. Without this funding, we would not have been able to set up as a social enterprise which would have meant having to stop our free food deliveries. We now have a chance to generate our own income, making us less reliant on grant funding and giving us a really good opportunity to achieve self-sustainability.

“Everybody’s talking about the state of the economy at the moment and there are plenty of people in Fylde who are really struggling to make ends meet. It’s really important that we all do what we can to help each other. FOODCO is just one way that people can do just that because if you buy from us you know that your money is being ploughed straight back into helping people in your community.”

Foodco produce is grown in allotments and provided through many different local sources including Kirkham Prison and St Bede’s School, Lytham as well as being grown at FOODCO growing areas by FOODCO volunteers.

If you would like to find out more about FOODCO, how to place an order or how to become a volunteer or produce donation site please visit www.ymcafoodco.org or alternatively contact the team at The Paterson Centre, St Annes on 01253 720 270.

Don’t miss out on this special event Monday 12th December, 6pm – 8pm, The Lofthouse Building, London Street, Fleetwood, FY7 6JL, Tel: 01253 872320.