皇冠体育app

Following the joy (and expense) of Christmas, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Andrea Leadsom, today (31 December 2014) announced that the government will fund a pilot programme to help children develop good financial habits at a young age by setting up savings clubs in primary schools in partnership with credit unions.

Research indicates that children develop their attitudes towards money long before they reach secondary school age, with the Money Advice Service suggesting that most children have formed their financial habits by the age of 7.

皇冠体育app 鈥楲ifeSavers鈥� project, which is led by the Archbishop of Canterbury鈥檚 task group on responsible credit and savings, will seek to equip children with good financial habits by educating them about the benefits of saving at an early age. It will also introduce children to credit unions, which play a key role in providing financial services to more than a million customers across Britain.

Encapsulating the credit union spirit, 鈥楲ifeSavers鈥� will involve the whole community and will engage the help of teachers, parents and community volunteers to ensure its success. 皇冠体育app project will pilot in six schools in its first year in south-east London (Lewisham/Bromley), Bradford and Nottingham, before rolling out to up to 100 schools over the next four years, benefitting up to 30,000 pupils.

皇冠体育app Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Andrea Leadsom said:

A key part of our long term economic plan is to secure peoples鈥� financial futures. And at a time when young people are exposed to financial decisions earlier than ever, LifeSavers is a welcome initiative from the Church of England and the credit union movement. 皇冠体育app project will help to tackle the root cause of money problems and develop good savings habits as early as possible.

Credit unions provide an invaluable service to a growing number of members, many of whom are on lower incomes, and make a real difference to their communities. 皇冠体育app government wants to see British credit unions go from strength to strength, and I鈥檓 hoping the money we鈥檙e announcing today is the kind of Christmas present the sector needs to ensure the next generation understand the benefits of saving with credit unions.

Sir Hector Sants, chair of the Archbishop鈥檚 task group on responsible credit and savings, said:

I am delighted that the government has agreed to support our savings club initiative in church primary schools. Understanding how to manage money responsibly is a key factor in living a fulfilled and contented life, and it is vital to help children build this understanding from as early an age as possible. 皇冠体育app savings clubs will also help promote the development of a larger and more vibrant community finance sector in this country.

皇冠体育app Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said:

It is great news that the government has announced this funding for the 鈥楲ifesavers鈥� pilot programme, enabling us to begin a programme of establishing savings clubs at church schools across the country.This project has the potential to help establish sensible, positive attitudes to money and the habit of saving in children and young people - habits we hope will stay with them for life. I am immensely grateful that HM Treasury has endorsed the 鈥楲ifesavers鈥� approach by providing this invaluable practical support.

As well as promoting financial education, the project will raise awareness and increase active membership of credit unions among children, school staff, parents, and the wider community.

皇冠体育app Economic Secretary announced the funding for this project, which totals 拢150,000, as part of the government鈥檚 response to its recent consultation: 鈥楤ritish Credit Unions at 50: A Call for Evidence鈥�. 皇冠体育app response sets out the next steps the government will take to provide a positive environment in which credit unions can truly prosper.