We share a vision of better informed, educated and more confident citizens, able to take greater responsibility for their financial affairs

Training

In 2008 we started a national roll-out of 'Young People and Money' training. This programme involves giving a day's free training with supporting toolkits to 20,000 youth intermediaries over three years to enable them to deliver basic financial literacy to young people across the UK.

We began the programme with concentrated work in a 'Spotlight' area - the homeless charity Centrepoint. The intention of this 'Spotlight' was to see how far the programme can impact on young people and professional services working with young people.

Developed with Citizens Advice and Fairbridge, a charity working with disaffected young people, the programme will be delivered by Lifeline, A4E, Fairbridge and Citizens Advice Northern Ireland - organisations with excellent track records in reaching young people in the NEET group.

The course covers:

Understanding the psychology of young people and money

  • Looking at who we are talking about and their current experience
  • Understanding attitudes and behaviours to money, and identifying needs
  • Making positive choices

Helping young people make the most of their money

  • Dealing with benefit issues
  • Saving and Banking
  • Essential/non essential expenditure
  • Planning and thinking ahead
  • Making ends meet

Enabling young people to make informed choices about saving and borrowing

  • Common reasons for and local sources for saving and borrowing
  • Costs of credit
  • Comparing credit deals and options

Embedding in Practice

  • Planned practice programmes
  • Unplanned learning opportunities
  • Using energisers and exercises to engage young people

Helping young people to manage debt

  • Looking at the range of debts young people might have
  • Identifying priority and non priority debts
  • Top tips for dealing with debt
  • Knowing when, where and how to refer young people for debt advice

We will use case studies and experiences from young people to urge policy-makers and funders to include the training as standard practice in the youth work sector. We are gathering these case studies through independent evaluation of the impact of the training and support has had.