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Families in Dumbarton who urgently need money in the coronavirus pandemic are using their credit union savings to seem them through the crisis.

The dire situation facing people on lockdown has been described as "deeply worrying" by the manager of Vale of Leven Credit Union.

Cathy Greig told the Reporter that people are now having to make emergency use of money which they had carefully saved for other essentials.

She added: "It's the only surplus cash they have and they are now depending on it. Children's savings are being taken out as well.

"What's more, elderly savers are now taking their savings out to help family members who are struggling. It's dire."

"We are going through hard times and our members are using their savings until they can get their Universal Credit in place.

"We are trying as best we can to support the community through the crisis and we are not pursuing loan repayments at present."

As chair of UKCU - a national trade association for authorised and registered credit unions - Cathy is also taking calls from credit unions across the country seeking guidance on how to cope with the pandemic.

Vale of Leven CU has been on the go for 40 years and has 4,000 adult and 1,000 junior members.

Meanwhile, credit unions across West Dunbartonshire are poised to share in a £20 million support package from two Government funds.

The money is being made available from the Scottish Government Third Sector Resilience Fund and the dedicated Credit Union Resilience Loan Fund to ensure credit unions can continue their crucial work during the pandemic and beyond.

The package is recognition that many of the people worst affected by the effects of coronavirus – for example taxi drivers facing a fares slump or those in the retail, hospitality or leisure industries – are often the people who rely on their credit union for affordable loans.

The Association of British Credit Unions (ABCUL) said they had been working closely with the UK and Scottish Governments to deliver effective support to those credit unions who needed it most.

Robert Kelly, the association's chief executive, said: “ABCUL has hosted online conference sessions with credit unions from all over Britain to identify issues of emerging concern and ensure these are addressed and the business strengthened to deliver essential financial support to members and to staff."

The Scottish Government's two specific support packages are offering the credit unions a mixture of grants and interest free loans.