Credit union is one of many services to open at former police station in Catton Grove
The Lord Mayor of Norwich, Brenda Arthur, officially opens The Box, a community information centre part of Catton Grove Big Local, surrounded by volunteers and local residents. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2016
A new resource centre based on the site of a former police station is to benefit from a credit union point.
The service will be at The Box in Catton Grove, which was officially opened yesterday by the Lord Mayor of Norwich, Brenda Arthur, and will provide loans for people at low interest rates.
It will replace the union's existing service at the Norman Centre, Mile Cross, which will close on Tuesday due to a lack of people using it.
Alan Camina, vice-president of the Norwich Credit Union, said: 'We used to have a very successful one based at Catton Grove Primary School, but gradually the space was lost and so we had to close.
'We have been looking for somewhere in the area for some time and this new location is right on people's doorsteps.'
The Box, on Woodcock Road, provides a variety of services ranging from benefit advice to health information, and is located inside a former police station.
It has been transformed into a resource centre by Catton Grove Big Local, in partnership with Future Projects, following lottery funding.
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Mr Camina said it would be the first time in three years that Catton Grove has had its own credit union point.
He added: 'If it gets better and we get lots of activity and volunteers we can expand it. The credit union offers a valuable resource for everyone in the city.'
The service will initially be open on Thursdays from 9am to 10am at The Box.
People wanting to join the union must save money for 13 weeks and can then borrow twice the amount they have stored away.
Unlike other lenders that can charge rates of interest of more than 1,000pc, the union charges 19.6pc APR on the loan.
Membership costs £1 and is open to anyone living or working in a Norwich postcode area.
Is your community organisation due to open a new office? Call Luke Powell on 01603 772684
