Young people from Leeds get to grips with their finances through money management course

Young people from Action for Children's Care Leavers Independence Project in Chapeltown, Leeds have been getting to grips with their personal finances and celebrating their successful completion of an innovative money management course.

CLIP, which is funded in partnership with Leeds City Council Children's Services, aims to help prepare young people leaving care to successfully make the transition into independent living. The project staff work with the service users to help identify suitable accommodation, offer emotional and practical support, and provide opportunities to learn essential life skills, such as cooking healthily and managing on a budget. As part of this, the project aims to improve the young people's financial capability through the Barclays Money Skills programme.

Action for Children is working in partnership with Barclays to deliver the Barclays Money Skills programme to young people who may be struggling to manage their finances. They are provided with the tools and support needed to improve their money management skills and gain a better understanding of financial matters, covering topics such as budgeting, managing bank accounts, and credit and debit.

Jeff Moody, service manager at CLIP, said: "Managing personal finances has become increasingly more complex and it is easy for young people to make mistakes that have a huge impact later in their lives.

"Since starting the Barclays Money Skills programme, many of the project's young people have begun to change the way they think and feel about money and have gained such confidence in their abilities, which is fantastic to see!"

Cathy Appleby, programme manager for Barclays Money Skills at Action for Children, said: "It's essential that young people have the opportunity to build their financial skills and confidence.

"Many of the young people that Action for Children supports face a particularly challenging set of circumstances, and need practical financial advice to help them manage their money effectively. We are working together to make a very real and sustainable difference to the lives of young people in Chapeltown and the surrounding areas."

This year, Action for Children projects will reach more than 2,500 of the UK's most vulnerable young people aged 16-25 through Barclays Money Skills sessions, including young parents and young carers, those in youth clubs and training centres, and to help young people leaving care prepare to manage their own tenancy for the first time.

For more information on CLIP or the Barclays Money Skills programme, contact Jeff Moody on (0113) 200 7070 or visit www.barclaysmoneyskills.com