Since 2010, The Money Charity has reached over 200,000 young people with high-quality, financial education through our Money Workshops, and with another school year coming to a close, our ambition continues to be that this kind of effective education would become the norm, not the exception, for young people across the UK. We are passionate about inspiring, engaging and educating young people on how to manage their money well throughout their lives, through our Workshops, our Teacher Resource Packs and our Student Money Manual.
Delivering financial education to young people has never been more essential as negotiating the world of money and personal finance remains a confusing, intimidating prospect for people of all ages. But with the subject officially on the Curriculum since 2014, many schools still lack the resources and confidence to deliver this themselves. The Money Charity meets this need through our Young People Programmes Team, who provide free, direct delivery of financial education in schools and colleges, as well as in other non-education settings, throughout England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Our Workshops are delivered by staff and our team of trained freelance consultants, and are tailored to meet the need of pupils. Multiple modules and subjects are available, suitable for KS3, KS4 and Post-16 age groups, all of which are interactive, engaging and fun, with plenty of discussion and activities for all learning types. Many students and teachers report that they appreciate the ‘external expert’ factor, especially when broaching a subject still seen as ‘taboo’ by many. Students have similarly cited their preference for external input rather than the same from teachers or even parents.
The workshops are fully independent and impartial, with no promotion of brands or products, as The Money Charity believes giving people everything they need to make the best financial decisions for themselves and their families is key. The workshops are proven effective as, when surveyed, more than 90% of pupils stated that they found sessions valuable, useful and believed they had learnt something new. A solid grounding in practical, robust financial education helps young people to learn and develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours they will need to negotiate life, and especially the big decisions which will so easily shape their coming years.
Alongside our workshops, we have also created a range of Teacher Resource Packs, ‘lessons in a box’ which teachers can use to deliver financial education ‘in-house’, or as a supplement/follow-up to a Workshop. We also produce a yearly Student Money Manual, offering an essential guide on managing money at university for those either considering going to uni, or who are in their first year.
As we look ahead to next year, we’re delighted to have hit the 200,000 milestone, but we know that there is still so much more to do and many more young people who need, and will benefit from, this input. Becoming financially capable is an essential life skill for all, but a particularly important one for younger people at an age when many first encounter having their own money, or looking towards some of the major decisions which will affect the rest of their lives.
If you’d like to find out more about our work with young people, to make a booking or order some resources, or even to get involved in supporting this valuable work, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on hello@themoneycharity.org.uk or 0207 062 8933.
