News release: Teenagers to urge MPs to improve their financial education and Get Money Savvy
Source: pfeg
06 Sep 11
NEWS RELEASE
Embargoed until 00.01hrs on Tuesday 6 September 2011
Teenagers to urge MPs to improve their financial education and Get Money Savvy
Teenagers from across England are today visiting Parliament to tell MPs why financial education is important for their future and should be taught in all schools. The visit has been organised by education charity pfeg and coincides with the launch of the ‘Get Money Savvy’ petition by young people, for young people, to ensure that all pupils are taught how to manage their money properly.
The young people are ‘My Money Young Advisors’ from children’s charity the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) and from Arun Youth Council, a group of 11-19 year olds from Sussex. They will give evidence to MPs from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Financial Education for Young People for their inquiry into Financial Education and the Curriculum.
The petition was the idea of the Young NCB members who have been working with pfeg for the last three years, giving the opinions and views of young people on financial education.
My Money Young advisor Aisha Nageen, 17, adds: “Its important that all young people get money savvy. We’re hoping that as many young people as possible sign our petition, so I’d highly recommend you visit the Get Money Savvy Facebook page.”
In a survey earlier this year for pfeg, 95% of young people thought it was important to understand how to manage their money. The top things they wanted to learn more about were household bills, the money side of work (eg. income tax, national insurance), budgeting, the cost of a house or flat of their own, and savings. Almost two-thirds of young people said that they were worried about not having enough money in the future and many did not think that college or university would help them get a job.
pfeg chief executive Wendy van den Hende says: “It’s a positive and unique step for young people to be invited to Westminster to give evidence to the inquiry into financial education and tell them what they think. Young people are clearly saying that they want to learn how to manage their money, and school is an excellent place for this to happen.”
Chair of Arun Youth Council Alex Harman, 17, says: “Today we’re telling MPs about our experience and why its so important for all young people to have good financial education. This is a great opportunity for MPs to hear directly from young people.”
The petition says: “Young people are calling for quality personal financial education to be part of the curriculum for all schools, so that every child and young person can save, plan and budget effectively for their futures.”
Find the campaign Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Money-Savvy/228388490542096 or go straight to the petition at www.gopetition.com/petitions/get-money-savvy.html.
For further information visit www.pfeg.org/GetMoneySavvy.
ENDS
For further information and interview requests contact Andrew Nye on comms@pfeg.org or 07958 923 587. For general information visit www.pfeg.org follow us on Twitter @pfeg_org.
Notes to Editors
- Photographs of the young people in Parliament with MPs will be available from info@pfeg.org or by ringing 020 7330 9470 after the session ends at 11am on Tuesday 6 September.
- The All Party Parliamentary Group on Financial Education for Young People chair is Justin Tomlinson MP. http://www.pfeg.org/APPG. The members of its Inquiry Committee into Financial Education and the Curriculum are:
- Andrew Percy, MP for Brigg and Goole (Chair)
- Justin Tomlinson, MP for North Swindon - Stuart Andrew, MP for Pudsey
- Fiona Bruce, MP for Congleton
- Conor Burns, MP for Bournemouth West
- Jenny Chapman, MP for Darlington
- Oliver Colville, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
- Mark Garnier, MP for Wyre Forest
- Anne-Marie Morris, MP for Newton Abbot
- Eric Ollerenshaw, MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood - For information about the My Money Young Advisors project coordinated by the National Children’s Bureau for pfeg: http://www.mymoneyonline.org/pupils/yags/default.aspx and http://www.youngncb.org.uk/about_young_ncb/projects_and_reports.aspx#mymoney.
- Arun Youth Council was formed in 1998. It is one of the most active youth councils in the South East, every year bringing together young people to create ideas about how to make Arun better for its 8,000 plus young people. www.arunyouthcouncil.moonfruit.com. For media enquiries contact Harriet.Shelley@arun.gov.uk or 01903 737 500.
- In June 2011 pfeg released findings of a survey by EdComs of 1,000 young people aged 12-16: http://www.pfeg.org/about_pfeg/our_news/news/news_release_mmw.html
- pfeg (Personal Finance Education Group) is the UK’s leading finance education organization helping schools to plan and teach financial capability relevant to students’ lives and needs. For information visit www.pfeg.org
