NYA Update: Charity partnership announced to help young people's money management
Jon Boagey
Monday, March 21, 2011
The National Youth Agency is to lead a consortium of five prominent youth and information charities to deliver an innovative peer education programme, which will seek to support up to 100,000 disadvantaged young people over the next three years.
Launched at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London by Deanna Oppenheimer, chief executive of Barclays UK Retail Banking, the Barclays Money Skills Champions programme is part of a £15m commitment by Barclays to add value to society and the economy as a whole, through bridging the financial education gap.
Barclays Money Skills Champions will be delivered by the National Youth Agency, in partnership with Citizens Advice, Rathbone UK, UK Youth, YouthNet and Youth Access.
Up to 5,000 disadvantaged young people who are not in education, employment or training will be equipped by trained youth professionals with money management and peer education resources and tools to support them in becoming Barclays Money Skills Champions.
The champions will also be provided with training to help them share the resources and knowledge with their own peer group. Through this model, it is hoped up to 100,000 young people will be reached.
Fiona Blacke, National Youth Agency chief executive, said: "Young people are facing significant challenges in their lives and reach out to people they trust for help and advice. It is essential the information they receive is accurate to ensure they are appropriately equipped to negotiate financial problems and money management issues.
"The Barclays Money Skills Champions programme will prepare young people that need it most with skills and knowledge to support themselves and their friends. We are delighted that such a significant investment is being made into the sector and young people's futures at such a vital time."
Barclays Money Skills Champions will be piloted in the summer and rolled out in the autumn.
For further information, visit www.nya.org.uk/major-programmes/barclays-money-skills-champions.
