A woman talking in a meeting to her young colleagues

According to you

This is your chance to have a say about the things that matter to you, and us to celebrate good news stories

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Your good news!

Our members are important to us. We're with you through your working lives and we want to help you celebrate important milestones through your life. In this issue of My Accord, we've got even some good news stories we wanted to share with you.

You have a chance to have a say about the things that matter to you. If you want us to include a good news story in a future edition of My Accord, find out how to get in touch below...

Janette and Stevie on their wedding day
Janette and Stevie on their wedding day

There's love in the air

When Accord reps Janette and Stevie attended Accord’s conference in 2022, they probably weren’t expecting their lives to change forever. But love was in the air and, having first met at that conference in Manchester, the pair recently tied the knot.

“I can’t thank you guys enough for my invite or I would not have met the love of my life,” Janette said when she shared the news.

Huge congratulations, Janette and Stevie, from everyone in the Accord family. Wishing you many happy years together.

Accord President, Carol Knowles, celebrating her 40 years, holding a giant card and balloon with 40 on it.
Accord President, Carol Knowles, celebrating her 40 years

Celebrating 40 years with Halifax

Congratulations to Accord President, Carol Knowles, who just celebrated her 40 years of working for the Halifax. Back in 1984, Carol immediately joined the Halifax Staff Association, as it was then, before becoming an Accord rep in 2003.

The rest is history.

Susan Horner (Accord Rep) and daughter Charlotte Horner at her graduation
Charlotte with her mum Susan Horner, a long-time Accord rep

Charlotte's graduation

Dr. Charlotte Horner, who featured in our March issue, recently graduated from her PhD programme at the University of Leeds. With support from Accord, she completed her doctoral thesis on student mental health. Pictured here with mum Susan Horner, a long-time Accord rep.

Congratulations Charlotte!

A red car that has been involved in a road accdient - image is for illustrative purposes
Credit: Netto Figueiredo. Image for illustrative purposes only.

Winning compensation after a road traffic accident

In 2022, Sheila* was involved in a road traffic accident, when the car she was driving was hit by another vehicle. As well as her car being written off, Sheila developed neck and back pain after the accident. She went to hospital and was told she had sustained nerve damage to her neck and injuries to her shoulder. 

Accord’s Scottish solicitors, Dallas McMillan, took on the case and advised Sheila to reject the insurers’ initial offer of a £1,000 settlement. Instead, they obtained a detailed report from a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and submitted that to the insurers. On that basis, Sheila received £4,200 in compensation.  

Had Sheila used a local or high street solicitor, she would have been charged up to 20% of damages, potentially losing more than £800 of her compensation. But thanks to her Accord membership, she was entitled to use Dallas McMillan’s services free of charge, ensuring she kept all of her compensation.  

Having access to a solicitor for personal injury claims is one of the many benefits of being an Accord member. The Dallas McMillan team are highly experienced in dealing with all types of injury claims, including road traffic claims, as are our legal partners in other parts of the UK. 

If you’ve had an accident in the last three years that wasn’t your fault and wish to make a claim for compensation, you can contact them any time.

*Not her real name.

Thank you from My Cancer My Choices

Thank you handwritten on a piece of paper coming out of an envelope

A message from My Cancer My Choices

At Accord’s Conference in April 2024 we held a raffle to raise funds for the local charity My Cancer My Choices who continue to grow as our tenants at Accord HQ. We’re proud of our support for the charity’s journey, and to have handed over a donation of £1,200!!

Here's the message we got…

Get in touch

We want to hear from you about the things that matter to you, and about the support you've had from Accord or our benefit providers. Please get in touch and we'll publish your story in a future edition of My Accord. Simply email us at:  [email protected].

We reserve editorial rights and letters do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the union. We don’t publish anything we've received anonymously, but if you want us to withhold your name, let us know.