West Midlands schoolchildren to improve their financial literacy

My Money Week initiative aims to give personal finance lessons.

Pupils at all schools across the West Midlands are being given the opportunity to learn more about money and personal finance during the eighth annual My Money Week, run by the UK’s leading financial and enterprise education charity Young Enterprise, incorporating pfeg (Personal Finance Education Group). It is the highest profile, and most recognised personal finance education initiative in England.

The week will run from the 13th-19th June, and aims to improve young people’s financial skills, knowledge and confidence through special lessons and activities. Teachers will also benefit from access to free My Money Week resources in the form of weekly planners full of creative and engaging activities and ideas on how to deliver financial education to young people. These new resources are available to download now on the My Money Week webpage www.pfeg.org/resources/mymoneyweek

This year, My Money Week will be exploring ‘money in the news’ and producing two new issues of the My Money Week newspapers, one primary pupil facing and one secondary pupil facing, both accompanied by comprehensive teachers’ notes. The resource will offer ideas about how to use and develop the content in a way that best meets the needs of your students and your timetable. Available to download for free, the newspapers and teachers’ notes can be accessed in April after the Easter break.

Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert said: “We live in one of the world’s most competitive economies. Companies spend billions on advertising, marketing and teaching their staff to sell, yet rarely do consumers get any buyers training. So a big, fun, week to help kids get engaged with their finances is exactly what’s needed – and it can pay real results for their future.”

Michael Mercieca, Chief Executive of Young Enterprise said: “We are thrilled that young people from the West Midlands are getting involved in this year’s My Money Week to gain the skills and experience to manage money well. My Money Week is a great initiative which encourages these behaviours and will benefit participants when they are faced with financial decisions in later life.

“I would like to thank Martin Lewis for this hugely generous donation which will ensure that this initiative, which promotes financial capability in schools in the West Midlands and across the UK, will continue to run and inspire more young people, their teachers and families to develop their financial skills, confidence and knowledge.”

Since the first My Money Week in 2009, 4.3 million young people have been helped to understand more about money and personal finance through focused activities in schools.