Use Your Expertise - volunteers in the classroom
pfeg’s volunteering project brings the expertise of people working in the financial sector directly into the classroom to benefit young people in schools and education environments.
In 2006 pfeg began a pilot project, in partnership with the Institution of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales, which explored how volunteers with a finance background could work alongside teachers to enhance their personal finance education.
Since then the number of ICAEW and other partner organisations’ volunteers going into schools and working with teachers and pupils has only increased.
Volunteers can offer their time and expertise for one off drop down days or events, or for longer term projects and ongoing relationships.
The teacher and volunteer work together to plan and deliver lessons or events to pupils in the most rewarding way possible. Input from a financial expert can be invaluable for pupils’ learning, and real life contexts help teachers connect what young people are learning in the classroom to life beyond school. All the volunteers in Use Your Expertise are CRB checked and trained by pfeg.
Why it’s important
Feedback from teachers, as well as consultation with students, has proven that the demand for volunteers in the classroom is high.
68% of young people in a student consultation event felt that they would benefit from financial experts coming in to teach them about money. This call for specialists suggests a hunger to discuss ‘real world’ views about finance.
Are you interested?
If you are a school or a teacher interested in getting a volunteer into your classroom there is an easy way to get involved.
- Send an email to liz.currie@pfeg.org or call 020 7330 9494 with your school details and some information about the day or project you would like a volunteer for.
- Your opportunity will be sent out to volunteers local to your school.
- Once a ‘match’ has been made pfeg will put you in contact with each other, and from there you can plan the activities you would like the volunteer to be involved with.
Would you like to volunteer?
Alternatively, if you are an organisation with financial experts and would like to support this project and get involved please see www.pfeg.org/we_need_you/volunteering_your_time or contact Liz Currie on liz.currie@pfeg.org or 020 7330 9494.
