A challenging year ahead

Well, 2010 is well and truly with us and promises to be a year of exciting challenges.

The general election will be the main focus of our lobbying work in the first part of this year. We will be working with our members to raise the profile of CDFIs across all political parties - access to finance is a message that crosses political divides. The message might vary depending on the audience, but the fundamental proposition – that people need appropriate credit – doesn’t change.
Very soon we will be inviting our members to a seminar where we will look at different lobbying tips and techniques. We will look at who to lobby, key messages and how to ensure the lobbying has effect. We will be building on all the groundwork of last year and ensuring that our voice is heard loud and clear.

Personally, I relish this type of challenge: I know our members do too. So, I am really looking forward to it all. Bring it on!

To support the professional development of our members we have a number of programmes, starting this month with an entry level guide to the CDFI sector for new staff members ("Introduction to CDFIs", 27 January, Derby), and proceeding throughout the year with course topics including loan management, delinquency and managing change. These courses are excellent value at £75 per delegate for members; check the cdfa website for our full 2010 events programme.

Don’t forget our conference, Money for Change which is in London on 23-25 June. We are holding the event with our sister organisation, the European Microfinance Network. Save the date, as it will be the most important networking event of the year.

On the homefront:

Thank goodness the icy weather seems to have gone. I was confined to barracks for days, I even ended up cooking bread and making hearty stews. I am clearly a Domestic Goddess!