Awards Categories

CU Community Award

Submission Guideline

Purpose of this Category:

To recognise how individuals or organisations outside the credit union (e.g., suppliers, partners, volunteers) have contributed meaningfully to the community by working in partnership with the credit union.

What to Include in Your Submission:

1. Background & Relationship to the Credit Union

• Who is the person or organisation?
• What is their relationship with the credit union (e.g., supplier, tech partner, volunteer)?
• How did the partnership begin?

2. Community Need or Opportunity

• What community issue, gap, or opportunity was identified?
• How did the external person/organisation help address this?
• Was this aligned with the credit union’s mission or strategic goals?

3. Actions Taken

• Detail the specific initiatives, projects, or programmes supported.
• Outline what role the individual/organisation played (e.g., developed resources, donated time/products, ran events).
• Highlight collaboration — how closely they worked with CU staff or members.

4. Impact on the Community

• Provide clear evidence or examples of the positive impact:
• Who benefited?
• What changed as a result?
• Include numbers, stories, or testimonials if available.

5. Values & Long-Term Benefit

• How did the collaboration reflect credit union values (cooperation, inclusivity, integrity)?
• Is the partnership ongoing or scalable?
• Did it inspire other community engagement?

Tips for a Strong Entry:

• Be specific – use clear examples.
• Show impact – how real people or groups were helped.
• Tell a story – human connection resonates with judges.
• Align with CU values – demonstrate shared purpose.

This guideline will help ensure your submission clearly communicates how someone outside the credit union became a catalyst for community wellbeing through meaningful collaboration. Let me know if you’d like a checklist version!

Many thanks

Jen