The Personal Finance Society (PFS) has started working with schools and colleges to deliver free financial education workshops from September onwards.
When the decision was taken to only open schools to the children of key workers in a move to reduce transmission of coronavirus, the Personal Finance Society’s My Personal Finance Skills pro-bono programme was adapted to support a virtual event option.
My Personal Finance Skills in-school material for students aged 14 to 18-years-old was turned into online financial education sessions.
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As well as recordings of educational sessions covering scam awareness, moving on from school, future finances and how to make financial decisions, the website was regularly updated with student money blogs, articles produced by financial advisers about money matters that impact teenagers plus bitesize learning videos.
The website will continue to be updated but as the nation’s children and teenagers return to school full-time in September, My Personal Finance Skills workshops will resume in schools across the country.
Once the government and schools deem it is safe to do so, the Personal Finance Society will arrange for financial advisers to go back into schools to deliver My Personal Finance Skills workshops and answer student’s questions about money matters face-to-face.
Keith Richards, chief executive of the PFS, said: “We launched My Personal Finance Skills as a pro-bono programme allowing members to help educate the nation’s teenagers about money matters and I am absolutely delighted by the feedback from schools and the growing demand.
“Our 800 Education Champions are committed to resuming school workshops as soon as possible but also with assisting schools and colleges by providing financial education sessions virtually while bubbles must remain in place to slow the spread of coronavirus.
“We have also been able to launch a new dedicated consumer website during the lockdown as part of an ongoing expansion plan.
“We are not only committed to helping students have better financial awareness and providing the support to teachers who are passionate about students’ understanding of money, we plan to offer financial education and guidance much wider.”