It was a pleasure to meet with Judy and her team at Nationwide’s Pinner branch this morning as part of their recent 40th anniversary celebrations.
The visit was a great opportunity to hear about the services provided by the branch, particularly the support that was given to members during the pandemic, as well as to those who are currently struggling with the rising cost of living.
I was also interested to learn about Money Lessons, Nationwide’s youth education programme. As part of this, colleagues volunteer to educate children and young people on topics such as savings, budgeting and staying safe online, an important issue which has been widely debated in Parliament of late.
Another crucial issue impacting residents is the risk of financial scams and online fraud, and I am encouraged by the branch’s work to raise awareness around these. Having met with a number of residents who have been impacted, I know it is particularly important to highlight, and I welcome that much has been done in Parliament to enable authorities to deal more effectively with these types of crimes through the Economic Crime Bill. For further information on how to spot scams, you can pick up a booklet in-branch, or visit Nationwide's scams guide here.
However, I am concerned to hear about a recent shift to incidents taking place offline, and a number of troubling incidents in Pinner where older and vulnerable people have been targeted, in person, by individuals claiming to want to help them. I have written to the Leader of Harrow Council about improving security and lighting, particularly in car parks, to act as a deterrent. I will also be raising this with the new Chief Superintendent for the North West Area, covering Harrow, in an upcoming meeting.
Lastly, from speaking with customers during the visit, it is evident just how valued and appreciated the branch is by the community, and the support provided by Judy and the team.
