While it has sometimes seemed quiet on Saturday mornings at the Fire Station since we started our Service Point for Plough & Share Credit Union there last September, we have made steady progress. In our first six months, 31 local people became members, Crediton attracted £3,000 in savings, and £6,000 was issued to local people in loans.

The numbers would hardly excite a Hedge Fund manager, but it's worth pointing out that these loans keep £4,157.16 in local pockets and in the local economy that would otherwise have gone to the sort of outfits they might otherwise resort to (using a modest, to them, interest rate of 762.84%).

Just as important as beginning to make progress with customers - and we didn't expect this to be quick work - we are absolutely delighted with the welcome and support we have had from organisations in town that we are now working with: the CAB, Children's Centre, CISCO, Fishtank at the Congregational Church and the Library Workclub to name just some of them. Their goodwill and help is hugely appreciated. Getting people to accept that we are not out to exploit them is not easy, and third party endorsement makes a big difference.

A generous individual has given us £2,000 to support our work. We had high hopes that Mid Devon District Council would 'double our money' with a grant, but in the end it turned out that they had other priorities.

If you are not already a member of Plough & Share, do join; and if you really want to help, take out a loan.

Our dozen stalwart Sustainable Crediton volunteers would love to see you any Saturday morning from 1030 to 1200 in the Community Room at the Fire Station in Charlotte Street.