Last week, Wave Community Bank had the privilege of spending the day at Invicta House in Maidstone – the headquarters of Kent County Council (KCC) – showcasing our ethical financial services to the dedicated staff who serve the people of Kent every day.
Teaming up with ReferKent which is a network of groups and services aimed at strengthening referrals across Kent for adults and families and Kent County Council’s Financial Hardship Team, we were part of a valuable event that brought together organisations focused on supporting financial wellbeing and social resilience within the county. The day offered a fantastic platform to raise awareness of the financial services we offer and to engage directly with the individuals who are best placed to signpost those in need across Kent.
Throughout the day, we had meaningful conversations with KCC staff about the role Wave Community Bank plays in supporting vulnerable individuals with ethical, affordable savings and loan options. As a not-for-profit savings and loans co-operative, our mission is to help people take control of their financial futures – whether that means getting access to funds that banks will not provide for them or building up a safety net through regular savings.
By sharing what we do, we aim to equip frontline staff with the knowledge to refer individuals who may be struggling financially or facing hardship to the support available through our credit union. Events like these are essential in helping to prevent exploitation by illegal money lenders or payday loan companies and instead promote financial resilience across our communities.
In addition to supporting the wider community, the day was also about supporting the KCC workforce itself. We were proud to talk with employees about our Workplace Savings Scheme, Chorus, which is available directly to KCC staff through payroll deduction. This partnership enables employees to save effortlessly, access affordable credit when needed, and build financial confidence over time.
Working alongside Kent County Council, we are committed to promoting financial wellbeing for both their staff and the wider Kent population. We believe that by helping individuals improve their relationship with money – whether through savings, budgeting support, or access to affordable credit – we are contributing to a stronger, more financially secure community.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Kent County Council for the opportunity to attend and speak with their staff, and to everyone we met on the day for their time, enthusiasm, and warm welcome.
A special thank you goes to the ReferKent team for their continued support in helping individuals access the right services at the right time. We are especially grateful to Mark Deveson, Simon Sim, and Victoria Lawrence-Rose for their incredible efforts in organising the event and making it such a success.
We look forward to future opportunities to collaborate with Kent County Council and continue working together to improve financial wellbeing across Kent.
