The credit crunch is filling the newspapers and TV screens and making people wonder about how safe their money is.
Hillingdon Credit Union has been around since 1991, and has been helping local people with their finances in a courteous and safe way since then.
It is registered with the Financial Services Authority and every penny in members' savings is protected by a government guarantee.
HCU has worked with many schools, and is in the middle of a big project to open savings clubs across the borough so that children can make good financial choices at an early age and learn good habits which will protect them in the future.
Employees of the council, from chief executives to cleaners, have saved with the credit union and have had loans for things as diverse as driving lessons to weddings.
The two patrons of the Credit Union, John McDonnell MP (Lab, Hayes and Harlington) and Nick Hurd MP (Con, Ruislip-Northwood), show that credit unions are supported across the political spectrum.
If anyone thinks that they may need some financial help at Christmas they need to contact Hillingdon Credit Union now.
By setting up a savings account they will be helping themselves and will also have access to the credit union's loan facility if they need it.
DAVID WILLIAMS,
president, Hillingdon Credit Union, Civic Centre,
High Street, Uxbridge.
