Northern Rock helps relaunch vital community facility

An important community service in South Tyneside has begun a new life with a new identity this week following support from Northern Rock plc.

Bridges, Your Community Bank, formerly known as South Tyneside Credit Union, has moved to a new and freshly refurbished premises on Sunderland Road in South Shields, and opened its doors to members of the local community for its official relaunch by the Mayor of South Tyneside, Councillor Tom Pigott yesterday (Tuesday, 16th November).

The facility is part of a country-wide network of 800 savings and loans cooperatives run by local people to service the financial needs of their own communities on a not-for-profit basis. And in line with Northern Rock’s Community Programme, which aims to help communities in financial difficulty, staff from the residential mortgage and savings bank were on hand throughout the project to offer advice and practical support to assist in the transformation.

As well as the dedication of the many local volunteers that help run Bridges on a day-to-day basis, the move and rebranding was also made possible with support from the Department for Work and Pensions, South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council and The Northern Rock Foundation.

Northern Rock’s Customer and Commercial Director Andy Tate, who is Executive Sponsor of the bank’s Community Programme said: “We have a very dedicated and passionate workforce that is extremely keen to support the local community in any way they can.

“We are delighted to have been involved in supporting such a wonderful facility that is so well respected and well utilised in its local community, and it’s been great to see Bridges come to life under its new name.”

Bridges Chairperson Shelagh Barton said: “We would like to thank everyone involved for their support and assistance, which culminated in the official reopening of Bridges yesterday.

“We are delighted the event was such a success and that our new premises will allow us to expand our range of savings and loan products to help more local people.”

To find out more about Bridges, visit: bridgescommunitybank.org.uk