Continuous education and development is essential to the credit union movement. The Development Educator (DE) programme has been held since 2004 to promote the importance of the credit union movement, facilitate networking and collaboration, and enhance leadership and business skills across the credit union sector.
How it Began
2002 was when discussions took place with some who had taken part in the Credit Union Development Education (CUDE) program in the USA. This group understood that in the UK there was a need to provide such a program on co-operative principals in order to enhance leadership and business skills. Marlene Shiels CEO Capital Credit Union and Mike Beal (USA) together with Mary Henderson ABCUL President, were the first course Directors of the D.E.U.K. program which began in Edinburgh in 2004. Alex Spence was the administrator of the programme till 2010. after the success of the DEUK held in Edinburgh since 2004. DEUK was replaced by DEEU to include delegates from Europe with the first course being held also in Edinburgh and the following year in Liverpool and administered by Carol Philbin from Partners Credit Union and headed by Tracey Fletcher CEO of Partners Credit Union.
DEUK 2004
DEUK 2004 was one of the most exciting learning opportunities to hit our credit union shores for quite a while. The first ever program in Britain took place in Edinburgh from 9 to 13th September and was a most rewarding credit union experience. The DE high level course looked at the impact of credit unions on today’s societal issues was designed to look at the strategic impact our credit unions can have, and how we can take forward the Credit Union message to “influencers” in our society. Many participants from all over Britain and as far away as Washington DC took part. The course was a 5-day residential. Guest speakers included the Chairman of the World Council of Credit Unions, representatives from the Financial Services Authority, the Cooperative Movement, CUNA Mutual and many more. The first graduation ceremony was hosted by the Provost (Mayor) of East Lothian Council in the Council Chambers on 13th September.
DEUK 2005
The second program took place between 8th and 13th of September. Delegates came from all walks of life who brought with them enthusiasm and a willingness to share ideas an open mind to listen and learn from the experience and views of others and most importantly, delegates who shared a common belief in the importance and value of credit unions in society.
DEUK 2006
During the week-long DE 2006 training, participants were involved in group exercises, encouraged to ask questions of visiting speakers, and required to complete team projects proposing solutions for credit unions to help alleviate or eliminate challenging situations in given areas. The delegates returned to their respective credit unions with a sense of personal enrichment, renewed energy and the achievement of Graduation as a DE and part of an international network.
DEUK 2007
Many credit union advocates from around the world have graduated from DE Training to become Credit Union Development Educators. Linking credit unions both past and present, the DE program brings renewed relevance to the philosophy of “People Helping People.”
Here we have the Mentors of the class of 2007
DEUK 2008
Program now in the fifth year where graduates will join the ranks of over 100 people who have been through this five-day intensive credit union training and development program, as well as joining over 1,000 Development Educators from other programs around the world. Participants heard from some of the most respected names in the credit union world including: Gigi Hyland from the US regulatory authority that looks after 90 million credit union members; Bobby McVeigh, ex World Council Chairman, Canada; Jeremy Palmer of the IJK Financial Services Authority and ABCUL’s Mark Lyonette. Participants from all over Britain will join with credit union colleagues from Canada, America and Europe in Edinburgh from 4 to 8 September.
DEUK 2009
Organizers Marline Shiels and Mary Henderson since 2004 are pictured with Chris Smith of the CO-OP Bank receiving an award in recognition of their work to bring Development Education to Britain.
DEUK 2010
The Program began when student participants were assigned to their Groups. Meal breaks provided an opportunity for the participants to relax with their new colleagues and begin to develop friendships and relationships. There was the traditional quiz night, opportunities to continue networking throughout the week. Over the five days students were given lots of information, challenges tasks to deliver and came through with flying colours. Certificates, and badges were presented, and photographs were taken.
DEEU 2011
DE has a special way of making you step outside of your comfort zone, tossing you into the credit union knowledge pool, building you up, and then aligning you in such a way that you simply can’t imagine NOT being in the credit union movement. Because of DE, YOU view members completely differently.
DEEU 2012
During the week-long DE 2012 training, participants were involved in group exercises, encouraged to ask questions of visiting speakers, and required to complete team projects proposing solutions for credit unions to help alleviate or eliminate challenging situations in given areas. The delegates returned to their respective credit unions with a sense of personal enrichment, renewed energy and the achievement of Graduation as a DE and part of an international network.
DEEU 2013
Liverpool became the venue for the First DEEU program in Europe after the success of the DEUK held in Edinburgh since 2004. It was a great success. The participants having graduated returned to their respective credit unions full of enthusiasm to execute the project they had set themselves enhancing credit union involvement in the community.
| Name | ORGANISATION |
| Catherine Greig | Vale of Leven SCOTLAND |
| Keith Banks | Unify |
| Roberta Verano | Tekton Coop PHILLIPINES |
| Josie Collins | NCUF U.S.A. |
| Nadia Mohammed | Kingdom CU |
| Mercedes Cadilles | Coop Dev Auth PHILLIPPINES |
| Phil Tyler | Solent CU |
| Sheenagh Young | SM CU |
| Rosaleen Bradley | Newington CU IRELAND |
| Elaine Gilmour | Solent CU |
| Joe Ochei | Grampian |
| Harry Ferris-Day | Citysave |
| Jamii Fidler | Citysave |
| Pat Wesenberg | Cuna USA |
| Barney Devenney | Newington CU IRELAND |
| Jayne Walker | Pennypost |
| Eddie O’Neill | Partners CU |
DEEU 2014
The Program began when the twenty-two student participants were assigned to their Groups, coming from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Thailand and the USA. Meal breaks provided an opportunity for the participants to relax with their new colleagues and begin to develop friendships and relationships. There was the traditional quiz night, traditional Liverpudlian food and opportunities to continue networking throughout the week. Over the five days students were given lots of information, challenges tasks to deliver and came through with flying colours. The Lord Mayor of Liverpool welcomed the students in the Council Chamber on the last day. Certificates, and badges were presented, and photographs were taken.
| NAME | CREDIT UNION | TOWN/COUNTRY |
| Paul Wambua | Stima Sacco | NAIROBI – KENYA |
| John Stewart | Capital CU | EDINBURGH – SCOTLAND |
| William Leahy | Ballyhackamore CU | BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND |
| Mitzi Smith | MAPS CU | ORLANDO USA |
| Tobi Weingart | Educators CU | WISCONSIN USA |
| Stuart Lloyd | Partners CU | LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND |
| Anthony Dunwoody | Partners CU | LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND |
| Divna Vidoeska | FULM | MACEDONIA |
| Amy Hitchcox | 6Towns CU | WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND |
| Sharon Van Antwerpen | 6Towns CU | WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND |
| Margaret Walsh | Newington CU | BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND |
| Stephen Carden | Central Liverpool CU | LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND |
| Rob Scales | Central Liverpool CU | LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND |
| Mark Brazendale | Salford CU | SALFORD, ENGLAND |
| Alan Ryan | Rush CU | RUSH, CO DUBLIN |
| James Clancy | Metro Moneywise | Rochdale England |
| Romeo Magdaong | National Confederation of Coops | PHILIPPINES |
How many DE’S would have loved the chance to do this Taken by Romeo from the Phillipines enjoy and thanks to Romeo we can all have a that boost when we need that DE fix!!
DEEU 2015
For the 3rd year running, Liverpool was once again the venue for Development Education Europe. Another great programme was conducted and created 21 new European DE’s. After the days of emersion in everything credit union they successfully graduated the DEEU Class of 2016 and by all accounts had a fantastic experience. Participants were from five countries as follows
England –Stephanie Burbage, Mahmod Jama, Monika Rok, Deborah Brown, Nathan Monks, Sarah Hall, Lucidia Rodrigues, Iliyana Raycheva Raykova, Amina Ahmed Habib, Sunday Coupe, Lucy Wainwright.
Scotland – Neil Blake, Alison Dowling, Susan Brown, Elizabeth Campbell.
Ghana – Emmanuel Coffie.
Kenya – Ademba Carilus, Elijah Obiny Dede.
Macedonia – Filip Jordanovski
For more information on future programs contact
carol.philbin@partnerscreditunion.co.uk
DEEU 2016
The fifth program took place in Liverpool and was a most rewarding credit union experience. The DE high level course looked at the impact of credit unions on today’s societal issues was designed to look at the strategic impact our credit unions can have, and how we can take forward the Credit Union message to “influencers” in our society. Many participants from all over Britain and as far away as Kenya took part.
| Jackeline Tamez | Houston Highway Credit Union |
| Sandra Rogers | Houston Highway Credit Union |
| Emmanuel Coffie | Ghana Cooperative credit unions association |
| Stephanie Burbage | Commsave Credit Union |
| Mahmod Jama | London Mutual Credit Union |
| Monika Rok | London Mutual Credit Union |
| Neil Blake | Capital Credit Union |
| Ademba Carilus | NCBA CLUSA |
| Deborah Brown | No1 Copperpot Credit Union |
| Nathan Monks | Unify Credit Union |
| Filip Jordanovski | FULM Savings House |
| Sarah Hall | Unify Credit Union |
| Lucidia Rodrigues | London Capital Credit Union |
| Iliyana Raycheva Raykova | London Mutual Credit Union |
| Alison Dowling | Glasgow & Capital Credit Union |
| Elijah Obiny Dede | Kenya Bankers Sacco Society |
| Amina Ahmed Habib | London Capital Credit Union |
| Susan Brown | Capital Credit Union |
| Elizabeth Campbell | Castlemilk credit union |
| Sunday Coupe` | Planesaver credit union |
| Lucy Wainwright | No1 Copperpot Credit Union |
DEEU 2017
Representative of the first DE programme in 2004 came to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2017 the “BEST CLASS EVER” after what was an intense program of everything Credit Union. The delegates return home to put into practice all they have gained from the five days of learning.
| NAME | ORGANISATION | COUNTRY |
| CHRISTINE BARRETTO | HEALTH SERVICES STAFF CREDIT UNION | IRELAND |
| SIMON KIPROTICH TANUI | KENYA POLICE SACCO | KENYA |
| GEORGE MAGUTU MWANGI | KENYA UNION OF SAVINGS & CREDIT COOPERATIVES LTD | KENYA |
| SONIA B JOHNSTON | CAPITAL CREDIT UNION | SCOTLAND |
| ASMAN KILOH KHATOLWA | KENYA POWER | KENYA |
| MARLON K CHARLES | TRINIDAD & TOBAGO FIRE SERVICE CREDIT UNION | REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO |
| JULIE GREGORY | CAPITAL CREDIT UNION | SCOTLAND |
| CALLUM SKEARS | COMMSAVE CREDIT UNION | ENGLAND |
| CRISTINA MARINA BAPTISTA DE SOUSA | LONDON MUTUAL CREDIT UNION | ENGLAND |
| KEVIN GARDNER | NO1 COPPERPOT CREDIT UNION | ENGLAND |
| LISA RIDGWAY | NO1 COPPERPOT CREDIT UNION | ENGLAND |
| IULIAN NEGREA | UNCAR | ROMANIA |
| ALEXANDRA CASTALIU | UNCAR | ROMANIA |
| JULIE MOSS | SOUTH YORKSHIRE CREDIT UNION | ENGLAND |
| PAUL NORGROVE | POLICE CREDIT UNION | ENGLAND |
| PAIGE CONNERY | CENTRAL LIVERPOOL CREDIT UNION | ENGLAND |
| PATSY MCSHANE | BALLINASCREEN CREDIT UNION | NORTHERN IRELAND /UK |
| MICHELLE MCMANAMON | NO1 COPPERPOT CREDIT UNION | ENGLAND |
Proud DE’s From Romania
Hello, I will be very short about the DEEU experience, because you have to take the course to really understand what is all about. A lot of work, brain-storming and team-work, totally worth the effort to stay 5 days form 8 am till 10 pm to study and to learn. For us it was a new experience, we’ve met many persons from different Credit Unions from different country, we’ve accumulate a lot of information and we will share this information with our Credit Unions. Many thanks to Paul Jones for making this possible for us!!
Julian Negrea and Alexandra Castaliu UNCAR Romania
DEEU 2018
The thumbs up was given for the 2018 DE Program led by Marlene Shiels and Lois Kitsch. Having gained fresh skills, learned about credit unions around the world, problem solving team building, public presentations and working cooperatively. Delegates were revitalised to take forward and promote the spirit of the Credit Union movement. They will be joining over 4,000 Development Educators from other programs around the world. Having graduated in Liverpool and receiving the DE badge, they will be able to showcase their achievement by displaying their DE badge with pride which is recognised in the Credit Union world.
Credit Unions are ‘In Your Heart and in Your Soul’ and once a DE ‘You’ll Never Walk alone!’
News Clips and Photos HERE
Copyright British Credit Union Historical Society 2018 – All rights reserved
British Credit Union Historical Society 