Affordable credit scheme gets boost
Hopkins No Interest Loans Scheme (HNILS), which helps families in the Warrnambool and Moyne Shires of Victoria with affordable credit, has received a boost from a $2,000 donation from National Australia Bank.
Made through NAB's Employee Volunteer Grant Program, the donation will assist HNILS in its aim to provide no interest loans to households with low incomes.
Chairman of HNILS for the Warrnambool area, Bill Quinlan, said the scheme provided affordable credit for lower income families and that local support was vital to its success.
"We commenced the program 12 months ago and to date we have helped 19 families improve their standard of living, which in turn benefits the community as a whole.
"The advantage of Hopkins NILS is that the initiative is run by local people who have a shared interest in helping the community.
"We would not exist without donations from various groups such as the NAB Employee Volunteer Program and the people who volunteer their time," he said.
NAB's Warrnambool Branch Manager, Michelle Hird, who has volunteered with HNILS said, "This is personally very fulfilling for me as my finance and banking expertise is helpful to the running of the scheme."
"I get a tremendous sense of satisfaction in using my NAB volunteer days to assist a worthwhile cause," Michelle said.
HNILS is based on the model developed by Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service. A committee of 12 administers the scheme, with responsibilities from interviewing applicants to loans committee assessments.
NAB's monthly Employee Volunteer Grant Program seeks to further help community or non-profit organisations that work with bank employees as part of the Employee Volunteer Program.
The Program offers each of the bank's 20,000 Australian employees two days of paid volunteer leave a year. Employees are able to nominate the community group or association they volunteer with for the Employee Volunteer Grant. The donation goes towards a specific project or initiative.
Find out more about the Employee Volunteer Grant Program and Employee Volunteer Program.
