Teresa Manning, Chief Executive of Clockwise Credit Union, has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List for ‘services to financial inclusion, to the Credit Union movement and the community of Leicestershire.’
Teresa said, ‘I am still surprised but obviously delighted. I consider it an honour for all staff and volunteers of Clockwise who have contributed to the work of the credit union over the past 25 plus years; providing financial services across the community, but particularly to those excluded from mainstream financial services. I am very proud of what we have achieved and look forward to continuing to make a difference in the lives of members of the communities we serve.
I am pleased that the credit union movement is also noted in the honour – there are around 400 credit unions nationally providing similar services and I passionately believe we should support one another to strengthen the movement. I am a huge advocate of co-operation and hope that I have contributed in some way to supporting other credit unions over the years.
Regarding the wider communities of Leicestershire and Rutland, it has always been important to us to support local initiatives which benefit local residents and we created a community grant fund which has provided small grants to organisations as diverse as a café for homeless, a local boxing club and a charity which provides safe space for children impacted by family breakdown to meet with their parents”
Commenting on the award, Paul Mattioli, Chair, said, ‘ Teresa will, of course, credit this award to the very professional and loyal staff at Clockwise, but this is also an award for her extraordinary commitment over the twenty six years that she has been associated with both Clockwise and the wider Credit Union movement. I know that she will use this as an opportunity to further the work that Clockwise does, just as she has continually strengthened the organisation, year on year, since she took over as CEO. We are all immensely proud of her.’
