How WMM works

What Money Means helps primary schools with resources, pfeg consultants and HSBC volunteers

pfeg's What Money Means programme has three aims:
  • to increase the quantity and quality of personal finance education
  • to increase the confidence and competence of those teaching it
  • to involve bank staff in supporting local schools.
What Money Means meets these by helping local authorities to develop and deliver a range of different sustainable approaches to personal finance education, and train and support teachers in how to use them in the classroom.

Resources for schools

What Money Means has generated a range of materials that schools and teachers can use and experiment with in relation to their own programme of personal finance education. These include:

  • planning tools
  • suggestions for activities
  • stimulus materials
  • examples of approaches that teachers can use and adapt.
What Money Means integrates personal finance education across the curriculum - for example, lessons in some schools have included looking at coins through the ages (history) and different money systems across the world (geography).

Ongoing research and support

What Money Means includes ongoing research projects in local authorities, to develop educational tools and techniques tailored to the specific needs of both teachers and children. Everyone involved with What Money Means receives regular information updates as more and more primary schools share their experiences of teaching financial capability and working with volunteers.

Local authorities involved in What Money Means benefit from direct support over an academic year from a dedicated pfeg educational consultant, who works to develop a plan for increasing personal finance education in the context of local and regional needs, and using existing networks. The consultant also works with teachers to develop classroom practice.

Volunteers

A key part of What Money Means is its community dimension. Over the life of the project, around 10,000 HSBC volunteers will be available as part of the support schools will receive. They:

  • provide support for teachers in the classroom
  • make financial education meaningful for children by using real life examples
  • demystify financial services institutions in the community.
HSBC volunteers will all have completed a day's training and hold an enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau. pfeg has also developed a dedicated guidebook for teachers, volunteers and trainers to enable everyone to work together effectively.

To register your interest in working with a trained HSBC volunteer, click the link below or call us on 020 7330 9470.