Longest serving volunteer wins at Credit Union of Wales Awards

Congratulations to Valerie Carroll (centre above) who won at the Credit Union of Wales Awards 2025 on 16th October 2025 at Holland House Hotel Cardiff By Sunday.

Her award was presented by Simon Weston CBE who spoke passionately about the importance of Credit Unions and the difference we make to people and how it would have helped support him and his family if they had been around in 1982 when he was injured.

Val (Valerie), is one of the founding members of Merthyr Tydfil Borough Credit Union. Her volunteering began over 26 years ago, when she became part of our Steering Group, whose main goals was to provide an alternative to the large numbers of loan sharks active in Merthyr Tydfil at the time. It was Val’s (and her fellow volunteers) care, commitment and enthusiasm helped their joint goal of having a ‘local credit union’ turn into a reality.

It all started when Val, a retired midwife along with the late Maretta Owen (also a retired midwife) supported the ‘Mother and Baby groups in Bedlinog at the Sure Start Centre to encourage the mothers to save for their children and their families, and those initial conversations kick started a Collection Point for the residents of Bedlinog in Merthyr Tydfil.

When the Sure Start programme ended, the first collection point began 24 years ago, at a local nursery school in Merthyr Borough. Back then, Val would work with the young pupils demonstrating the importance of savings.

Now Val holds a collection point at Craig-yr-Hendre, a retirement schemein her village. This provides for the more vulnerable in the community, allowing them to have safe access to ethical savings and loans. From nursery schools to retirement homes, Val has worked with people of all ages to help promote our services to the whole of the community.

Val still runs one of the busiest a Collection Point in Bedlinog twenty-five years later and she’s just as passionate about providing a safe place for savers and borrowers young and old as she was when she was on the Steering Committee.

Delyth Shearing, Manager at Merthyr Tydfil Borough Credit Union said about Valerie’s win

"Congratulations to her on her win, it is truly deserved, she’s showing no signs of slowing down and as passionate as ever about the Credit Union and spreading the message, ensuring we can help and support as many people as we can in our local communities.

Every Credit Union needs volunteers and we’re really fortunate to have Val Carroll as a volunteer at Merthyr Credit Union."