The importance of managing money

Organised by Education Business Partnership West Berkshire, with funding from Barclays, as part of a new National Youth Agency programme, delivering employability and life skills training, over 80 students from Mary Hare School spent an hour with business volunteers from Barclays and Ntegra understanding how much money they might earn when they leave school and whether they could afford their chosen lifestyle. A pretty important life skill, especially for those Year 12 (16-17 year olds) whom for which, leaving school is not too far away!

Many were really surprised at how much things cost, didn’t realise that you had to have a TV licence to legally watch TV, or that there would come a point in their lives when their parents would actually stop funding their life (especially if they were earning graduate salaries and living at home!)

One student said, “This workshop has changed my life, I think everyone should go on this workshop” and another commented, “It’s really got me thinking about my future.”
Two of the teachers from the school said “It was a brilliant experience for all the students it gave them an idea about money!” and “It was a very interesting experience and I myself learned a lot.”

Jane Grunseid from EBPWB said, “With the right resources and support, it is amazing how much young people can learn in such a short space of time. Thanks to Barclays and our volunteers for making this possible.”